By RONALYN V. OLEA
Three women from different tribes in Mindanao have come to Manila to share their stories with the hope that the national government will heed their calls.
Mothers of the struggle against ‘development’ aggression
Category: Must-Reads
Mining-ravaged Mindanao folk deliver ‘closure orders’ to mining TNCs, Chamber of Mines
By MARYA SALAMAT
They bring with them an urgent call as their communities continue to face the threats of large-scale mining and militarization.
Probe reveals massacre of Blaan family ‘premeditated’
By RAYMUND B. VILLANUEVA
“The victims were unarmed and helpless, as most of them were still sleeping. It was only the elder son who was awake and in school uniform, sipping coffee outside the hut and who can be clearly seen and identified by the soldiers and yet they still fired at Jordan.”
Toxic waste dumped in Subic fuels calls for abrogation of VFA
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
“It’s not a question of who dumped the toxic waste. The question is whose toxic waste was dumped into our territory. Though Glenn Defense remains accountable for the act, the biggest accountability goes to the US and Aquino governments.” – Rep. Emmi de Jesus, Gabriela Women’s Party
KMP exposes Cojuangco ploy to include horse stable help as Hacienda Luisita beneficiaries
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
“The inclusion of Cojuangco loyalists and dummies in the DAR’s list of beneficiaries is exactly the reason why the DAR’s so-called verification process is a scam and a barefaced maneuver by the President’s family to once again evade land distribution.”
Politicians, military blamed for Tampakan massacre
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
The military claims that the massacre of Juvy Capion and her two children Jordan, 13, and Janjan, 8, was a ‘legitimate encounter.’ Now, they have taken one of the survivors, four-year-old Becky.
Child rights violations under Aquino government increasing
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
The month of October was declared as National Children’s Month, but still the rights of majority of Filipino children are being trampled upon due to poverty, lack of access to basic social services, and child labor, and the alarming increase in cases of rape, sexual assault, harassment, being made as human shields in military operations or paraded as ‘child soldiers,’ and killings.
Sidebar: Child rights groups slam military for attacks on children
US military set to use Subic as naval base again
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
“As the U.S. begins to implement [the rebalance], Subic will play an important role because it is one of the important facilities that can service its presence in the Pacific.” One would think that this quote is from a US military or government official, but this actually came from the executive director of the Philippine Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement.
Three decades of struggle for the only progressive teachers’ alliance in the country
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
The progressive teachers’ movement under the banner of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers commemorated its thirty years of struggle by drawing lessons from the past, as well as celebrating its victories, as it vowed to continue its struggle for the rights and welfare of teachers and the interests and rights of the Filipino people.
Philippine Freedom of Information bill still nowhere near passage
By MARK PERE MADRONA
“The FOI bill can be a powerful tool in empowering people. People should always assert their right to information.” – Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III
Carmen ‘Nanay Mameng’ Deunida, modern-day Tandang Sora
By RONALYN V. OLEA
The 84-year-old chairwoman emeritus of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap is a tireless fighter, an inspiration to the poor