Japan rights group tags cops, soldiers in killings (tags)
A Japan-based international human rights group Tuesday joined the growing number of non-government organizations that have tagged the Philippine military and police in extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances. Human Rights Now (HRN) said a fact-finding team it sent to the Philippines last year had concluded that there were "reasonable grounds" to believe that in the many cases, the Armed Forces of the Philippines or the Philippine National Police were responsible for the killings.
Big business hits Philippine SC ruling (tags)
The influential Makati Business Club (MBC) on Thursday said the Supreme Court decision on executive privilege did not conform to the “progressive standards of transparency” and restricted the ability of the legislature to check presidential abuse. In a statement, the MBC said it was “very concerned” about the tribunal’s ruling on the petition of then Director General Romulo Neri of the National Economic and Development Authority to stop the Senate from questioning him further on the $329-million National Broadband Network (NBN) deal with China’s ZTE Corp. “Their decision gives greater value to executive privilege than to the public’s right to know, which is not in keeping with progressive standards of transparency. It also has the effect of restricting the ability of the legislature to act as a countervailing force against executive abuse,” the MBC said.
GRP-MILF TALKS CANCELLED (tags)
he resumption of peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will not push through today in Malaysia as earlier announced, but a Palace official said the raging armed hostilities in Mindanao have nothing to do with the development. Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye earlier said the peace talks would resume as scheduled despite the offensive against the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan, saying the MILF was not the target of the military operation.
Bishops: 'Power politics' behind Jalosjos commutation (tags)
Despite Malacañang’s repeated denials, Catholic bishops suspect politics was behind President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s decision to commute the sentence of convicted rapist and former Zamboanga del Norte congressman Romeo Jalosjos. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care (ECPPC) executive director Rodolfo Diamante said the act also shows the “bias" of the administration towards known political allies. “Obviously it’s political because how come Jalosjos was given that privilege and denied the others who are more deserving," Diamante said in a statement posted on the CBCP website (www.cbcponline.net).
New GMA's Appointments: Ebdane to DND, Nachura to SC (tags)
Malacañang formally announced yesterday the appointment of former public works chief Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. as the new defense secretary, ignoring recommendations for a civilian to head the sensitive post. Ebdane, 58, replaces Avelino Cruz, who quit unexpectedly in November, fueling speculation of a rift in President Arroyo’s Cabinet over moves to change the Constitution. Also at Malacañang yesterday, Chief Justice Reynato Puno announced Mrs. Arroyo’s appointment of Solicitor General Antonio Eduardo Nachura as Supreme Court associate justice. Ebdane was reportedly the one who brought out of the country former elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano at the height of the vote rigging controversy involving Mrs. Arroyo. Ebdane denied the accusations
US-Arroyo Regime Beat a Retreat : Stop Con-ass now (tags)
President Macapagal-Arroyo, sensing grave political fall-out from her manuverings, had instructed her political affairs adviser Gabriel Claudio on Friday to “order” the lawmakers allied with her to drop the constituent assembly (Con-ass) as a means of changing the Constitution, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said yesterday.
Good health, secured jobs and shelter not on urban poor's vocabulary-- KADAMAY (tags)
Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) Chairperson Carmen Nanay Mameng Deunida, a staunch critic of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, sarcastically agreed to the statement made by Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye that the president is "healthier" than most of her critics. Hindi kaduda-duda na mas malusog siya dahil kaming mga mahihirap na lalong naghihirap sa ilalim ng kanyang administrasyon ay hindi lamang nilulugmok ng pagkakasakit, kawalan ng serbisyong pangkalusugan kundi dulot na rin ng malawakang kawalan ng trabaho at patuloy na demolisyon sa aming mga tahanan," Deunida furiously said as another 300 families in Brgy. 169 in Malibay, Pasay today faces violent demolition. Deunida said that good health, secured jobs and homes are not on the urban poor's vocabulary.
Palparan named deputy NSA (tags)
President Arroyo has appointed controversial Army Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan as deputy national security adviser for the government’s anti-insurgency campaign, Malacañang announced yesterday. Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor said Palparan will assume his new post when he officially retires from the military on Sept. 11. As expected, Palparan’s appointment to a sensitive government post was denounced by militant groups that have complained that the retiring Army officer is behind the extra-judicial killings of leftist activist
Atrocities creep into Maguindanao fighting (tags)
Pesante-USA/AJLPP prints new reports of atrocities that have begun to surface in Maguindanao as fighting between militia and rebels of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) continued to escalate. A lone gunman killed the wife of a senior MILF leader implicated in a failed attempt to kill the provincial governor, the military said Thursday.
Gov’t sticks to war, rejects Reds’ peace bid (tags)
MALACAÑANG remains committed to pursuing its all-out war against communist rebels even if exiled leaders of the communist-led National Democratic Front have asked Norway to convince President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo to return to the negotiating table.In a statement, the NDF said it had sent its top leadership to Oslo on Monday for four days of consultations with the Norwegian foreign ministry. Norway had facilitated the peace talks between the Philippine government and the NDF before negotiations were scuttled in 2004.
NDF calls for peace talks resumption (tags)
The prospect for the resumption of the peace negotiations in the Philippines remains bright despite the all-out attack of the Arroyo regime against the NPA and the MILF. Pesante-USA.AJLPP reprints the news article on the armed conflict that besets the county. Amid the government’s all-out offensive against the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), the National Democratic Front (NDF) pushed yesterday for the resumption of peace talks with the government.