BY BULATLAT At least 5,000 migrant workers from different parts of the globe under the banner of the International Migrants Alliance (IMA) held a rally in Manila today to protest the opening of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD). The protesters converged along Quirino Ave. around 10 a.m. and marched toward the direction…
Category: Breaking News
Free Labor Lawyer – Int’l Human Rights Group
BY BULATLAT New York-based Human Rights Watch has called on Philippine authorities to immediately release labor lawyer Atty. Remigio Saladero. Saladero, legal counsel of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU-May First Movement) was arrested October 23 by combined elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Military Intelligence Group of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.…
Arroyo’s Labor Export Policy and the GFMD Promote Trafficking of Filipino Women –Women’s Party
BY BULATLAT A women’s party list group scored the Arroyo government and the Global Forum for Migration and Development (GFMD) for the intensified trafficking of Filipino women and children. To show their disgust for the Arroyo government and the GFMD, the Gabriela Women’s Party held a protest parade this morning at the Department of Foreign…
Colleagues Say Missing Activist Alive
BY CYE REYES Northern Dispatch BAGUIO CITY—The Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) received information from a ‘reliable and credible’ source saying that missing activist James Balao is alive and is being detained by state security forces. According to Beverly Longid, CPA chairperson, the information they received Thursday came from an informant who is among the ranks…
Labor Lawyer Arrested by State Agents
BY BULATLAT The chief legal counsel of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU-May First Movement) was arrested yesterday around 1 p.m. by state agents. Atty. Remigio Saladero Jr. was arrested in his residence in Antipolo City by combined police and military elements led by the Antipolo Police and Military Intelligence Group 4A of the Intelligence Services…
‘Stop being part of Palace’s grand cover-up,’ Joc-joc told
BY BULATLAT A party-list representative and peasant leader urged former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante, the alleged mastermind of the P728-million fertilizer scam, to tell all. The United States authorities reportedly ordered the deportation of Bolante. Anakpawis party-list Representative Rafael Mariano, also chair of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, challenged Bolante to stop being part…
Solon Slams New Power Rate Hike
BY BULATLAT A party-list representative assailed the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and the Arroyo government’s Energy Regulatory Commission for the new round of power rate hikes. Anakpawis party-list Representative Rafael Mariano described the move as ‘power tripping and the height of callousness’ in the face of the worsening economic turmoil. The ERC approved the new…
DOJ Hit for Opposing Medical Request of Political Detainee
BY BULATLAT The Department of Justice opposed the medical request of political detainee Randall Echanis, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP-Philippine Peasant Movement) said. Echanis is the KMP deputy secretary general for external affairs. He was arrested in April this year for trumped-up charges of murder. He is now detained at the Manila City Jail.…
Bayan Slams GMA’s ‘Beggar Mentality’, Lack of Program amid Crisis
BY BULATLAT The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan-New Patriotic Alliance) slammed the Arroyo administration’s ‘beggar mentality.’ The group was referring to the announcement of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that the World Bank pledged $10 billion to a standby facility for members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The World Bank (WB) denied making such commitment.…
NGO Says Gov’t Primary Violator of Children’s Rights
BY BULATLAT On the occasion of National Children’s Day, a network of child rights advocates said the government, including its military forces, remains the ‘primary violator of children’s rights.’ The Philippine government signed the United Nations Convention for the Rights of the Child on July 1990, and thereafter, signed Proclamation 74 declaring October 17 as…
Black Friday Protest Set for Beheaded OFW
BY BULATLAT An alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ organizations based in the Middle East has set October 17 as a “Black” Friday to protest against and condemn the Arroyo administration for acting ‘too late with too little efforts to save an overseas Filipino worker from execution.’ The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed the execution…