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Black for Bush

As President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo prepares to welcome U.S. President George Bush with a red carpet, the Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) will use the color black to stage “unwelcome” protests. 

“Bush’s visit in October will surely go for increasing U.S. economic control and military basing in Mindanao and the whole country. Instead of a red carpet welcome, we will hang black cloths in public places to symbolize our protest against Bush’s wars which have killed thousands of our brothers and sisters in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Rev. Fr. Allan Arcebuche, OFM, PCPR spokesperson said.

“Black, the color of death and lamentation, will be the symbol of our protests against the forging of more unfair and one-sided agreements with the U.S. that grossly violate Philippine sovereignty and sacrifice national patrimony,” PCPR stated. 

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IFJ scores violence vs Filipino journalists

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has once more voiced its deep concerns over the continuing violent attacks against media workers in the Philippines, in a letter to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Aug. 26.

The IFJ strongly urged the Macapagal-Arroyo government to launch a full investigation into the murder of newsman Noel Villarante and to ensure the safety of all journalists and media workers in the Philippines.

Villarante was gunned down in Sta. Cruz, Laguna province south of Manila on Aug. 19.  It is suspected that Villarante was silenced for criticizing illegal gambling and illegal drug trade.

Villarante is the fourth journalist to be killed in the Philippines this year and the 41^st since 1986. His death is preceded by the killings of Tarlac-based, Bonifacio Gregorio; Lucena broadcaster Apolinario Pobeda of dwTI-AM; and John Villanueva Jr., an announcer for Legazpi City’s radio dzGB. 

These deaths follow the killing of journalist and broadcaster Sonny Alcantara in Aug. 2002 and that of broadcaster and editor Edgar Damalerio in May also last year. 

The IFJ also expressed alarm over the death threats received by Tempo and Manila Bulletin correspondent Jeama E Sabate.  The group revealed that Sabate received a faxed death threat days after the murder of Villarante and the threat was in response to articles Sabate had written critical of some prominent lawyers.

In the letter to Macapagal-Arroyo, Christopher Warren, IFJ president, said, “We have written to you numerous times about murders and other attacks on journalists and media workers in the Philippines…It is unacceptable that media workers continue to lose their lives for their work in the Philippines. Your Government needs to act to ensure that this climate of persecution and retribution against media is dismantled and replaced with a climate of tolerance and press freedom.” 

IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists worldwide.

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House probe of nude shows urged

Bayan Muna Representative and Gabriela secretary general Liza Largoza-Maza recently filed a resolution seeking to investigate the proliferation of nude shows in Batangas City and the alleged collusion between nightclub owners and officials in the city.

Maza said that despite growing protests from residents, nightclubs such as Taverna Queen, Overtime, Sportsman, Ritz, City Babes, Emperor and Lovely Women continue to feature lewd shows.

The congressperson said she received reports that Taverna Queen has even developed a new gimmick called “tiklap” where young girls give onlookers a few seconds to peek at their private parts. “This new gimmick has been developed if only to say that they have complied with the orders from the city council to stop the all-the-way nude shows,” Maza said in her privilege speech before the Congress.

Of these seven nightclubs, Maza revealed that one is allegedly owned by a very influential businessman based in Lipa. Another is allegedly owned by a barangay captain while two of these nightclubs are allegedly owned by very close relatives of Batangas City local government officials.

Officials of Bgy. Balagtas have admitted to receiving P250 per night from at least a dozen nightclub owners and operators. This amount, barangay officials say, goes to the budget of the barangay for its maintenance and operations. But following protests from residents, the barangay council's opposition to the lewd shows and news reports that exposed their illegal activities, this amount has reportedly been reduced in the past week to P100 per night. 

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Youth caravan for voters registration

The Anak ng Bayan sectoral party launched a Metro-wide caravan Aug. 25 to encourage the public, particularly the youth, to register and vote for the 2004 national elections.

Dubbed as “R:18 Kaya Mo Na, ‘Tol” voters education program, the caravan started at the Quezon City Memorial Circle. Targeting students, the caravan went to the University of the Philippines in Diliman, the university belt area in Recto, Taft Ave. and Intramuros in Manila.

Based on Comelec statistics, 54 percent of potential youth voters are not registered.  Registration resumed last Aug. 14 and will last until Oct. 31. 

Bulatlat.com

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