NEWS AT A GLANCE

Journalists condemn U.S. federal agents’ theft of AP documents

The National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) last week condemned the “theft” of Associated Press documents related to the news agency’s investigative report on terrorism.

In the press forum, “Media for Peace,” Inday Espina-Varona, NUJP national vice president, said, “There is no other way to describe the U.S. government’s seizure of the FedEx package sent by AP Manila reporter, Jim Gomez, to AP Washington’s John Solomon.”   She said the seizure was done unilaterally, in the absence of any warrant while the U.S. Customs Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) did not even bother to inform AP of their action.

The NUJP leader denounced the “theft” as a clear case of media repression, an assault on press freedom and the people’s right to know. 

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Teachers assail “unprecedented” P10B cut 
in education budget; demand GMA veto

Militant teachers denounced the Congress bicameral committee version of the 2003 P800-billion plus national budget even as they demanded President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to veto what has been called a “crisis budget.”

“The bicameral committee has approved a budget for education that is the worst in more than 50 years!” said Antonio L. Tinio, chair of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT). 

Tinio dared President Macapagal-Arroyo to veto the General Appropriations Bill or teachers will see to it she is removed from office immediately.

The P96.3 billion Department of Education budget approved by the bicameral committee is way below last year’s P105.3 billion education budget and is even further from the P106.4 billion proposed by the presidential office for 2003, he said.  

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NPA suspect killed

San Rafael, Bulacan—An alleged member of the New People’s Army was killed by plainclothesmen believed to be elements of the Philippine National Police here.

Michael Santiago was abducted from his house, March 12, by five unidentified men.  His wife, Regina, said the men dragged his husband out of their house around 8 p.m. 

The following day, Santiago’s family was informed the victim was dead.  Provincial Director P/Senior Supt. Felizardo M. Serapio, Jr. pointed however to the military as being responsible for the killing in an encounter.

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MILF explains why it's not “terrorist”

Following the threat by the Macapagal-Arroyo government to declare the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as a foreign terrorist organization, a spokesman of the separatist group explained why the MILF is not a terrorist group.

Lawyer Eid Kabalu said the MILF is a mass-based organization and many of its members are professionals. The MILF, he said, is pursuing a legitimate cause and using legitimate means to achieve this cause but that it is talking peace and is committed to resolve the Mindanao problem through a peaceful negotiated solution. The Front, moreover, is a signatory to the international convention banning the use and storage of land mines and other explosives, he said.

Bulatlat.com

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