Philippine Gov’t lacks political will to go after the Marcoses (tags)
One can understand Andres Bautista’s deep frustration in wanting to abolish the Presidential Commission on Good Government, which he has headed since October 2010, although — or because — it has failed to accomplish its two-pronged mandate, 27 years after President Cory Aquino created the PCGG through Executive Order No. 1.
More than 16,000 Veterans Claims Denied as Feb 16 Deadline Ends (tags)
The Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV), a national alliance of veterans, youth, students and community organizations and activist for veterans rights based in Los Angeles expressed disgust as the DVA announced that it has denied 16,000 claims for lump sum. JFAV media coordinator Joy Alonica Bautista said, “ This is an outrage considering that the US and Philippine government made so much political capital of the lump sum. Now, the truth is out. That they have taken the Filipinos and the Filipino-American community and our veterans for a ride. This is another dirty act and a living proof of racism. ”
Filipinos join global action in Copenhagen Vs Climate Change (tags)
As world leaders negotiate on carbon emission limits, Filipino activists join tens of thousands of activists all around the world in mobilizations dubbed “People’s Assembly to Reclaim Power and Avoid Climate Crisis.” “We are in solidarity with the people who fight for climate justice. This big protest action is a testament to the people’s demand for quick and meaningful action by national governments and international institutions like the United Nations,” said Filipino climate activist Clemente Bautista of Philippine Climate Watch Alliance. “But as expected, leaders and government of capitalist countries like the United States, Japan, and European Union are evading responsibility and sabotaging the negotiation,” he said in a statement e-mailed to media outfits.
Stop SLAPPing Filipino environmental defenders (tags)
-Green progressive watchdog Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) today noted the rise of lawsuits against environmment advocates, warning that this could be a dangerous precedent by large mining firms and landowning families to stifle opposition to their interests. In a press conference held at Quezon City, Kalikasan PNE National Coordinator Clemente Bautista presented three case studies of non-government environmental advocates, including individuals and organizations, facing a variety of SLAPP lawsuits from foreign firms accused of engaging in environmental and anti-people practices in communities where they operate.
Former Catholic Nun Talks of War and Immigration at Seattle Baptist Church (tags)
guest speaker, Sister Florchita Bautista discussed her reflections at the University Baptist Church before an audience of fifty people last Sunday, August 5. Bautista cited the cases of human rights violations in the Philippines, specifically, stories of the grade three pupil Grecil who was shot by military men and was even accused of being a member of the rebel group New People’s Army, and that of Alice, the wife of Dr. Chandu Claver whose family is in Canada now seeking political asylum. Alice got eight bullets from the military operatives in Kalinga, northern part of the Philippines. Like many activists, Alice before her death was very active with progressive organizations that are fighting for the rights of the indigenous people over their ancestral lands and was critical of the corrupt policies of the government.
Missing PAMALAKAYA-ANAKPAWIS member fisherman found dead (tags)
A member of the fisherfolk alliance PAMALAKAYA , Napleon Bautista, affiliated with the Kilusang Magbubukid gn Pilipinas (KMP) who was allegedly abducted by Army soldiers from the 7th Division on August 31 was found dead on Thursday in Bulacan, a report here said.