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AGHAM-Samahan ng Nagtataguyod ng Agham at
Teknolohiya para sa Sambayanan
(Advocates of Science and Technology for the People)
Press Statement
July 24, 2011
Brain drain continues under Noynoy Aquino
administration;
No industrialization plan to provide jobs for S&T workers
On the eve of his second State of the Nation Address (SONA), progressive
scientists led by AGHAM reminded President Benigno Aquino III that the
massive brain drain phenomenon continues under his administration.
Even under the new administration, many science and technology (S&T)
professionals still find it hard to secure employment suitable to their
skills and expertise. The Department of Science and technology (DOST) was
able to produce around 1,437 scholar graduates at the end of the 2009-2010
school year, but we have yet to hear of any remarkable development stating
where they have all ended up. It's highly unlikely that many of them have
been able to secure jobs in the scientific research arena given that the
industry is very small and almost non-existent in the Philippines. For the
last decade, the number of emigrating science workers has ballooned to
around two and a half times compared to the figure 11 years ago.
There remains widespread discontent and frustration in the local science
and research community over the dismal state of our country's science
research and development.
A year after he assumed the Presidency, Aquino has no plan to develop the
economy and establish national industries. His economic platform remains
much like that of his predecessors: export-oriented, and heavily reliant
on imports.
The Philippines remains an exporter of cheap raw materials but imports
expensive finished products. The effect of such economic policy is the
slow if at all existent development of domestic industries. We can cite
the absence of domestic production of even the simplest everyday goods. In
the meantime, the government continues to adhere to a program of mass
export of our highly talented human resources which should be tapped
instead for domestic needs.
Last July, the DOST announced that it wants to make internet and
communications technology as an enabling tool to help expand and sustain
the burgeoning business process outsourcing industry. DOST Secretary Mario
G. Montejo has said that the DOST has the mandate and the knowledge
resources to raise the number of business process
outsourcing (BPO) workforce "in a significant way."
This emphasis of the government’s S&T agency on the BPO industry has only
shown the current mindset of the government with regard to science and
technology. Instead of strengthening local production of tools and
machineries for agriculture and other equally important aspects of the
economy, the Aquino government merely continues the
tradition of previous administrations by toeing the line of foreign big
business and international lending institutions: do away with ambitions of
building strong domestic industries and just serve foreign monopolies with
cheap English-speaking workforce.
The science and technology community in the Philippines calls on President
Aquino to implement comprehensive reforms involving national
industrialization. It should prioritize a genuine and thorough-going
agrarian reform program to ensure food security and self-sufficiency. By
distributing and developing the country's agricultural lands for domestic
food production, the foundations of national industrial development can be
more firmly built. Furthermore, it should provide the necessary support
and infrastructure to harness the capacity of world class local scientists
to address local problems and contribute to domestic industrialization.
We call on all well-meaning scientists, engineers, and other S&T
professionals to join in AGHAM's advocacies, including putting pressure on
the current administration to put in place an industrial environment where
we can practice our technical knowledge and skills
to help propel our country away from pre-industrial and agrarian state
that it is in.
REFERENCE:
Giovanni Tapang, PhD
National Chairperson, AGHAM
0927 5736714
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Press Release
26 July 2011
What about the environment?
“PNoy’s SONA failed to address environmental problems,”-Kalikasan PNE
The State of the Nation Address given by President Aquino yesterday
disappointed green groups lead by Kalikasan People’s Network for the
Environment. According to them, the issue of environmental protection and
solving environmental problems was hardly mentioned in the President’s
SONA.
“PNoy has already spent one year in office and still, he has neither
concrete plans nor achievements on the environment. Instead, he just
continued the destructive environmental policies of the previous Arroyo
administration that opened our natural resources to foreign plunder,” said
Marjorie Pamintuan, spokesperson of Kalikasan PNE.
The only environmental agenda mentioned in the SONA was about planting
trees and employing communities to guard them.
“This is nothing new. It has been already done by the past administrations
with little positive effect. In a research done by Kalipunan ng Katutubong
mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KAMP) and the Center for Environmental
Concerns-Philippines (CEC-Phils), this kind of scheme which is similar to
the existing Community Based Forest Management Agreement (CBFMA) and
Socialized Industrial Forest
Management Act (SIFMA) lead to grabbing of forest lands while the
communities became DENR’s poorly paid workers.”
The groups say that even the President’s log ban which was implemented
through EO 23 is full of loopholes.
“The log ban is quite deceptive since it allows cutting of trees in
natural and residual forests to give way to plantations which most likely
will be owned by corporate loggers. This will pave the way for the
proliferation of monoculture plantations that will destroy the
Philippine’s biodiversity and will lead to more land grabbing.”
According to Kalikasan PNE, the President’s policy on mining and energy
are also detrimental to the environment and the people.
“He worsened mining plunder by approving 353 new mining applications. At
the prodding of mining companies, the government is bent on reversing the
mining moratorium declared by 12 local provincial governments in the
country such as South Cotabato, Batangas Capiz, Mindoro Occidental,
Mindoro Oriental, Marinduque, Samar and Western Samar.”
“Moreover, the PNoy‘s dirty energy plan which supports coal-fired power
plants will not only destroy the livelihood of the people living around
them and pollute the air but will also worsen climate change because of
the massive carbon dioxide emissions.”
Two (2) coal power plants were inaugurated by Aquino: the Panay coal plant
in April and the Cebu coal plant in July. There are 12 more proposed coal
plants that will be built all over the country. According to the group
Advocates of Science and Technology for the People, the “clean coal
technology” used by the coal companies is not really clean since it
neither eliminates nor reduces the amount the carbon dioxide that the coal
plants release. They also said that the Philippines has actually an
oversupply of electricity but the people still pay high electricity rates
because of the Electric Industry Power Reform Act (EPIRA).
Aside from his anti-environment and anti-people policies, the
environmental groups also criticized PNoy’s silence on environmental
killings.
“It is very ironic that he always mouths justice but is silent on the
deaths of the seven (7) environmental defenders who were killed under his
administration. He has been mum even on the popular cases of botanist
Leonard Co and broadcaster and anti-mining advocate Dr. Gerry Ortega. He
always blames the past administration’s crimes but has never moved a
finger to give justice to the 33 environmentalists killed under Arroyo.”
“PNoy did not offer anything new and substantive for the environment and
well being of the people. Instead, he worsened environmental plunder by
just continuing the rotten environmental policies of Arroyo. If this is
the “tuwid na daan” where he wants to take us, then, we are driving
straight into massive environmental destruction and widespread poverty,”
ended Pamintuan.
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CLEMENTE BAUTISTA
National Coordinator
Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment (Kalikasan-PNE)
No.26 Matulungin St. Bgy. Central, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines 1100
Tel. No. +63-2-9248756 Fax No. +63-2-9209099
Email: kalikasan.pne@gmail.com
Website: www.kalikasan.org
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NEWS RELEASE
25 July 2011
Reference: LANA LINABAN, Secretary-General (0908 8653582)
GABRIELA Public Information Department (0917 4661522 / 3712302)
More of the “same old, same old” policy
SONA OF MORE ILLUSIONS AND MAKE BELIEVE EXPECTED FROM PeNOY
Thousands of women will take to the streets to protest what they call the
“same old, same old” ramblings of President Noynoy Aquino in his State of
the Nation Address after one year in office. Members of GABRIELA said that
Pres. Aquino will only further weave illusions using manipulated data to
make the government look like it had delivered on its promise of “a
righteous path” that will lead to change.
Carrying baskets with a single rotten egg representing PeNoy Aquino and
the impact of his policies on the everyday lives of women, members of the
group marched with thousands of protesters along Commonwealth Avenue in
Quezon City. “The economic and political policies of the Aquino government
have rendered our baskets heavy with high prices of basic commodities and
services. Because of unabated price increases under the PeNOY
administration, our families remain hungry, our children cannot go to
school, our health concerns remain unaddressed and we are being displaced
physically and economically,” stated Lana Linaban, Secretary-General of
GABRIELA.
According to Linaban, women know better than to believe the lies they
expect the President to issue because they never felt that their
conditions has improved at all. “Aquino’s promises during his Inaugural
Address and first SONA were merely more of the same old policies of
liberalization, deregulation and privatization that previous
administrations have been implementing,” said Linaban. “These policies
continue to worsen the poverty that many Filipino families experience. No
amount of Pantawid Programs such as the Conditional Cash Transfer can
mitigate the impact of his rotten policies. Indeed, there is change, but
certainly it’s for the worst.”
Linaban added that first and foremost in women’s grocery list of issues is
the unabated inflation rate which reached 4.7% in June. She also said the
recent survey noting a decline in the number of hungry Filipinos from 4.1
million in March to 3 million in June this year is incredible considering
the increase in inflation rate. “High prices of fuel and basic commodities
such as rice, cooking oil, sugar and flour have wreaked daily havoc on the
budget of women who have to ensure food on the table with barely P400 a
day, if the family is lucky enough to have a salaried breadwinner.”
Another issue in the grocery list is the increase in toll rates and the
impending transport fare hikes in the LRT, MRT, bus and even jeepneys. On
top of this, social injustice continues as land dispute such as in
Hacienda Luisita, human rights violations and US military intervention
persist. “The righteous path of the Aquino government has become a killer
highway for Filipino families. The anti-women, anti-people economic and
political policies of the government continue to rampage in this killer
highway, running over the lives and livelihood of Filipinos. We expect
more of these for the next years of the Aquino administration.”
Linaban said GABRIELA is bracing itself for the wild and dangerous trek
along the killer highway by encouraging more women to organize themselves
to present a stronger voice to echo their demands for pro-people economic
and political policies. “The more we become in number, the stronger the
barricade we can create against the rampaging rotten driver of our
economy.” ###
Public Information Department
GABRIELA National Alliance of Women in the Philippines
(+632) 3712302
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NEWS RELEASE
July 24, 2011
Ref:
Rep. Emmi De Jesus, 0917-3221203
Rowena Festin, 0915-6349308
Gabriela Solon Emmi De Jesus Counters EVAT
via Ruel Rivera Gown
There are fashion statements and fashionable political statements. For
this year's biggest fashion event, Gabriela representative Emmi De Jesus
dons a baby pink panuwelo as her fashion placard, with lilac nouveau art
text spelling out her call to "SCRAP EVAT."
The panuwelo-as-placard accessorizes a Roel Rivera gown, Marikina's
fashion designer par excellence.
"Roel understands very well that my priority is to get a message across,
thus the minimalist silver gray gown embroidered with fuschia leaves and
flowers, to allow focus on the panuwelo with its political call,"
explained Rep. Emmi De Jesus.
"As a representative for Gabriela Women's Party, it is our utmost duty to
bring to Congress the voices and demands of poor women, in all possible
ways. It is the women who have to shake their heads endlessly in an effort
to make ends meet and solve financial scarcity in the household. EVAT
burdens poor women the most as they have the least funds to shell out. It
is only just that we bring to Congress their calls to SCRAP EVAT," ended
the Gabriela solon. ###
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Representative EMMI DE JESUS
Gabriela Women's Party
"Babae, Bata, OFWs at Bayan.... Tuloy ang Laban!"
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NEWS RELEASE
25 July 2011
For Reference: REP. LUZVIMINDA C. ILAGAN 0920-9213221
Jang Monte (Public Information Officer) 0917-4049119
GABRIELA FASHION SEEKS TO BRING HOME
DISTRESSED OFWS
P’NOY ECONOMICS, JOBLESSNESS AGGRAVATE PLIGHT OF DISTRESSED MIGRANTS -ILAGAN
A woman’s face made from a collage of flags of different nations behind
black stripes adorns the Filipiniana skirt worn by Gabriela Women’s Party
Representative Luz Ilagan as she brings to the fore the concerns of 10 M
Overseas Filipino Workers and their families on President Benigno Simeon
Aquino’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA).
A fuschia and purple kimona with beadwork from the ethnic and lumad
traditions of Mindanao symbolizes women empowerment. This matches the
skirt collectively designed by migrant and women’s rights advocates and
executed by Ugat Lahi artists’ collective. The outfit accentuated by a
matching handbag with the slogan “Bring them Home” all effectively conveys
the plight of distressed OFWs in jail, death row and those virtually
incarcerated by the government’s failure to repatriate and bring them
home.
“We have 122 OFWs in death row, 7,000 OFWs in jail and some 20,000
stranded OFWs all awaiting repatriation. To this very alarming situation,
the Aquino government responded by slashing the Department of Foreign
Affairs’ Legal Assistance Fund and Assistance to Nationals—a clear
demonstration of this administration’s lack of concern for the so called
modern day heroes,” said Ilagan.
According to Ilagan, the plight of distressed OFWs must be taken seriously
and measures to ensure that they are provided with assistance as
stipulated in the Migrants’ Act must be put in place by the Aquino
government.
The Gabriela solon likewise lamented the Aquino government’s economic
policies that aggravate poverty and its failure to create more jobs are
pushing more Filipinos to leave their families. Moreover, OFWs forced to
return home from war torn regions like Libya as well as those who have
lost their jobs following the implementation of nationalist policies
prioritizing local citizens for employment in countries like Saudi Arabia
now face unemployment and huge debts to boot upon their return.
“This situation of joblessness and low wages is forcing Filipino workers
to high-risk, even suicidal employment abroad. They would rather risk
abuse, even face death row sentences than let their families go hungry.
Ilagan notes that research think tank IBON has pegged the number of
unemployed and underemployed Filipinos at 11.6M.
“We call on President Aquino to bring to the fore a concrete action plan
that will give protection and assistance to OFWs and an economic policy
that will end joblessness, reduce government dependence on OFW remittances
and put an end to the labor export policy.”#
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GABRIELA WOMEN’S PARTY
NEWS RELEASE
July 21, 2011
Ref:
Rep. Emmi De Jesus, 0917-3221203
Rowena Festin, 0915-6349308
GWP: PRESIDENT AQUINO’S INACTION MAKES HIM
ACCESSORY TO COMFORT WOMEN INJUSTICES
“Seven months after President Aquino mentioned to members of the Foreign
Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) that his
administration would “correct" the failure of past governments to provide
reparation for the so-called comfort women, the “lolas” are still in the
dark side, waiting for the promised reparation,” said GWP Rep. Emmi De
Jesus today as grandmothers of Lila Filipina walk to Mendiola to clamor
for their long-held dreams of official apology and reparations from the
Japanese government for war sex crimes committed by the Japanese Imperial
Army during the World War II.
“President Aquino has yet to take a concrete step on behalf of the
Filipino comfort women. And as he continues to neglect their claim for
justice, the lolas continue to suffer in the hands of successive
administrations that continued to ignore their demands. With this attitude
of the President, he affirms his leaning towards protecting the interest
of powerful nations like Japan, in the guise of maintaining diplomatic
relations,” explained Rep. Emmi De Jesus.
“More than 65 bona fide members of Lila Pilipina, an organization of
Filipino comfort women, have died since they started taking up the issue
in 1991, without seeing the light of justice. The war may have ended more
than half a century ago, but they remain victimized by the continued
denial of their demands," added the Gabriela solon.
“In the forthcoming State of the Nation Address, we expect that the Aquino
government will talk big on its supposed accomplishments, but the
grandmothers know better as they have seen his subservience to foreign
dictates. And for as long as the lolas continue to be strong and firm in
demanding for their rights from a President who sways in infirmity,
Gabriela Women’s Party will be steadfast in supporting the lolas’ clamor
for justice,” ended Rep. Emmi De Jesus.###
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Representative EMMI DE JESUS
Gabriela Women's Party
"Babae, Bata, OFWs at Bayan.... Tuloy ang Laban!"
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GABRIELA WOMEN'S PARTY
NEWS RELEASE
July 26, 2011
Ref:
Rep. Emmi De Jesus, 0917-3221203
Rowena Festin, 0915-6349308
Aquino’s Wangwang Clueless of Wengwang
Conditions of Women Wallowing in Poverty
“It was as if he was talking only to Filipinos belonging to the middle and
upper class strata of society. Reference to concerns and issues of poor
Filipinos was tokenism at its best. If our poor women were to listen
closely to the speech, immediately, they will understand there is no hope
for change to be expected in the next few years under Aquino,” was
Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Emmi De Jesus’ reaction of the 2011
SONA of President Noynoy Aquino.
“Poor women know better than to believe Aquino’s speech because they are
fully aware that after a year of P-Noy Administration, their homes are
still under threat of demolition, their families remain hungry, they still
do not have decent job with living wages, oil price and basic goods and
commodities continue to rise, their children still cannot go to school,
and their health concerns remain unaddressed,” added GWP Rep. Emmi De
Jesus.
"His claim that a decrease by 15.1% self-rated hunger is the biggest lie
of all because some 4.5 million Filipinos are jobless. IBON also revealed
that underemployment rate rose to 19.4% in April 2011 from 17.8% in 2010.
It implies an 827,000 increase in the number of Filipinos not earning
enough from their jobs and seeking additional work. The mandated minimum
wage of PhP426 and the measly PhP22 ECOLA as of May 2011 is far from the
PhP1,000 daily need for a family of six in NCR to live decently. His
silence on Hacienda Luisita and migrant issues also clearly shows that the
Aquino administration failed to consider the Filipino people’s long-term
well-being," explained the Gabriela solon.
“Clearly, poor women today are “wengwang” and “windang” every day,
worrying how to make ends meet for their families. The President's
wang-wang rhetorics will not spell out decent jobs with living wages, nor
homes free from demolition teams. What Filipinos need are clear policies
that will truly uplift conditions of the poor on a long-term basis,
without having to hang on to the thin thread of CCT-dependency,” ended De
Jesus.###
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NEWS RELEASE
26 July 2011
For Reference: REP. LUZVIMINDA C. ILAGAN 0920-9213221
Jang Monte (Public Information Officer) 0917-4049119
WANG-WANG SONA: LACKING AND OFF-TANGENT –ILAGAN
Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luz Ilagan today said President
Noynoy Aquino’s “Wang-Wang SONA” was sorely lacking, hollow and without
direction.
“President Aquino’s war against wang-wang is misdirected and off-tangent.
Why not wage a war against the wang-wang of oil companies who make
billions in profits out of over-pricing? Why not wage a war against the
wang-wang of employers and companies who refuse to regularize employees
and give just compensation?”
“How about the wang-wang of mining companies that wantonly rampage on our
resources and the wang-wang of big landowners who refuse to subject their
haciendas to land reform? Why not wage a war against the wang-wang of
impunity and human rights violations?”
The Gabriela solon likewise expressed her disappointment as the President
failed to mention how it would address the plight of Filipino migrant
workers. “There is no government action plan to protect, assist and
repatriate some 20,000 stranded OFWs and 122 OFWs in jail.”
“Yesterday’s SONA also failed to make mention of a Mindanao agenda. Does
this administration have any agenda for peace in Mindanao? What now of the
so-called Mindanao reforms that PNoy said would be implemented following
his endorsement of the postponement of ARMM elections?” asked Ilagan,
herself a Mindanaoan.
“It was like the President asking us to drive along the so-called
‘daang-matuwid’ without any sort of map or road signs. There were so many
promises, without any clear plan on how we could get there,” said Ilagan.
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NEWS RELEASE
23 July 2011
For Reference: REP. LUZVIMINDA C. ILAGAN 0920-9213221
Jang Monte (Public Information Officer) 0917-4049119
GABRIELA TO P’NOY: GIVE DUE IMPORTANCE TO URGENT OFW CONCERNS IN SONA
Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luz Ilagan today called on President
Aquino to give due importance to concerns of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW)
in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday and prioritize the
passage of measures that will ensure protection and assistance especially
to distressed migrant workers.
“We have around 10 million OFWs all contributing to uplift our ailing
economy, thousands of them in distress. The least that this government
should do is ensure that services, protection and assistance due them and
their families are adequately provided.”
The Gabriela solon said President Aquino should put forward a concrete
action plan on how the government intends to address the plight of 122
OFWs in death row, 7,000 OFWs in jail and some 20,000 stranded OFWs
awaiting repatriation.
“In the past year, the Aquino administration has been quick to impose
additional fees and exactions but extremely slow in giving assistance to
OFWs in distress,” said Ilagan who noted that the government budget for
its Legal Assistance Fund and Assistance to Nationals was slashed from
P200M to P109M.
On the other hand, mandatory Pag-Ibig membership and contributions and
mandatory insurance are all taking its toll on the budget of OFWs and
their families.
Ilagan further said that as crises hits economies all over the world, the
Aquino government should also start bracing itself for the return of
migrant workers and ensure substantive and sustainable employment for
returning OFWs.
“A comprehensive economic policy that the Aquino administration promises
to put forward in the SONA should take into consideration our OFWs,
address their various concerns including and most especially their appeal
for a sustainable employment program in the country that will put an end
to the country’s labor export policy.”
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HUSTISYA (Victims United for Justice) *
Desaparecidos (Families of the Disappeared for Justice)
News Release
SONA 2011
July 25, 2011
Reference: Cristina Guevarra, Hustisya secretary general 0949-1772928
Still no justice, as violations continue
Victims of human rights violations and kin join SONA protests today
Reiterating their calls for justice and an end to the reign of impunity,
victims of human rights violations and their families will march with
different cause-oriented groups along Commonwealth Avenue today on the
occasion of Pres. Benigno Aquino III’s second State of the Nation Address
(SONA).
“We are disturbed that Malacañang has said nothing about human rights in
what to expect in this year’s SONA,
proof that he has done nothing for human rights,” Hustisya secretary
general Cristina Guevarra said.
Hustisya, an organization of victims of human rights violations and their
families, said Aquino has not lifted a finger to end impunity. “Worse, the
same policy of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances
continue,” she said.
Guevarra explained that the current cases filed before the courts are
cases filed by the families and the victims themselves. Among these are
the civil case filed by some members of the Morong 43 against Arroyo and
army officials, the criminal case filed by Jonas Burgos’ mother Edita
against army major Harry Baliaga, the criminal charges filed by the
mothers of missing UP students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan against
retired army major general Jovito Palparan, and the class suit filed by
the United Church of Christ in the Philippines against Arroyo.
“If families of victims of human rights violations had not filed charges
against the perpetrators, including military officials and former
president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the wheels of justice would not have
turned,” she said.
The group also said that it took two years for the Supreme Court to issue
a writ of amparo on the case of missing activists Burgos, Cadapan and
Empeño. “However, because the military remains in a state of denial of
their role in the abductions, the benefits of the amparo have not been
effected,” Guevarra said.
The writ of amparo is a legal remedy available to any person whose right
to life, liberty, and security has been violated or threatened with
violation by an unlawful act or omission of a public official or employee,
or of a private individual or entity. The writ covers cases of extralegal
killings and enforced disappearances or threats.
No justice, as violations continue
Meanwhile, Hustisya condemned the recent cases of killings which happened
days before Aquino’s SONA.
On July 10, Roque Laputan, 59, a member of Anakpawis partylist and an
anti-mining advocate in Davao del Sur was shot dead by two
motorcycle-riding men.
On July 23, two persons identified as Soliman Gomez at Rommel Fortadez,
were shot dead in Pangarap Village in Caloocan City after private security
guards opened fire at a vigil site by residents protesting against the
demolition in the area. Many were also injured.
The guards, who were allegedly drunk, were guarding the property owned by
Gregorio “Greggy” Araneta III, a relative of newly-appointed Department of
Transportation and Telecommunications secretary and Aquino’s running mate,
Manuel “Mar” Roxas III.
“Clearly, Aquino’s pronouncements last SONA were mere lip service. There
is still no justice,” Guevarra said.
The transcript of Aquino’s SONA last year, stated: “Natukoy na rin po ang
salarin sa mga kaso nina Francisco Baldomero, Jose Daguio at Miguel Belen,
tatlo sa anim na insidente ng extralegal killings mula nang umupo tayo.
Singkuwenta porsyento po ng mga insidente ng extralegal killings ang
patungo na sa kanilang resolusyon. Ang natitira pong kalahati ay hindi
natin tatantanan ang pag-usig hanggang makamit ang katarungan. Pananagutin
natin ang mga mamamatay-tao. Pananagutin din natin ang mga corrupt sa
gobyerno (We have identified the perpetrators in the cases of Francisco
Baldomero, Jose Daguio at Miguel Belen, three of six incidents of
extralegal killings since we held office. 50 percent of the incidents of
extralegal killings are towards their resolution. For the remaining half,
we will not stop prosecution until we achieve justice. We will go after
the killers. We will go after the corrupt in government).”
“There were only six at that time, now the figures have increased. Nasaan
ang sinasabing pang-uusig sa mga maysala? Nasaan ang katarungan? (Whatever
happened to prosecuting the perpetrators? Where is justice?)” Guevarra
exclaimed.
Karapatan Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights has documented
48 cases of extrajudicial killings since Aquino assumed office. The number
does not yet include the most recent cases. Meanwhile, there are five
victims of enforced disappearance.
First case of EJK under Aquino archived
Meanwhile, the group scored the current status of the first case of
extrajudicial killing under Aquino, which the president said was already
towards resolution.
Fernando (not Francisco) Baldomero, a Sangguniang Bayan member in the
municipality of Lezo, Aklan and a provincial coordinator of Bayan Muna
partylist was shot dead on July 5 last year, a few days after Aquino was
sworn into office.
According to Baldomero’s son, Ernan, the case was recently archived in the
local courts. The arrest warrant issued on January this year had not been
served, while the suspect has transferred to another town, eluding arrest.
“This is the kind of justice PNoy is promising
us. Continuing the policy of human rights violations makes him no
different from the previous administration. We will not hesitate to make
him accountable for the abuses under his regime,” the group ended. ###
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For immediate release
News Release
July 23, 2011
Rights group raises alarm on recent spate of
extrajudicial killings
Victims ask PNoy: how many more?
“We ask him, how many more?”
This was the question made by victims of human rights violations and their
families on the eve of Pres. Benigno Aquino III’s second State of the
Nation Address (SONA), condemning the recent spate of extrajudicial
killings over the past weeks.
Reacting to announcements made by Malacañang that Pres. Aquino’s SONA will
focus on his anti-corruption campaign report for the past year, victims
organization Hustisya asked whether human rights is not an alarming issue
for the Aquino administration.
“Didn’t he mention an end to extrajudicial killings and enforced
disappearances in his matuwid na daan? If this is so, why do killings
continue?” said Cristina Guevarra, Hustisya secretary general.
Hustisya condemned the killing of Roque Laputan, a member of Anakpawis
partylist and anti-mining advocate in Davao del Sur. Laputan was
reportedly shot dead by two motorcycle-riding men on July 10.
“Killings continue just before PNoy delivers his second SONA. Does this
tell us that the same policy of extrajudicial killings will continue for
the next years of Aquino’s term?” Guevarra asked.
The group also condemned the shooting incident in Pangarap Village in
Caloocan City this morning, when security guards of Securicor Corporation
opened fire at a vigil site by residents protesting against the demolition
in the area. Two persons died on the spot, identified as Soliman Gomez at
Rommel Fortadez, while many were reportedly injured.
The guards, who were allegedly drunk, were guarding the property owned by
Gregorio “Greggy” Araneta III, a relative of newly-appointed Department of
Transportation and Telecommunications secretary and Aquino’s running mate,
Manuel “Mar” Roxas III.
“We are raising the alarm not only because victims under the past
administration have not been given justice, but most especially, that
killings continue under PNoy. Until when shall we wait for a concrete
action to stop the killings?” Guevarra exclaimed.
According to Karapatan Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights,
there have been 48 victims of extrajudicial killings, not yet including
the recent cases.
“We do not even want to hear again that killings under his term have been
resolved. It pains the families even more,” Guevarra said.
The group said even those mentioned in Aquino’s first SONA have not been
resolved, citing the case of the killing of Fernando Baldomero, a
Sangguniang Bayan member in the municipality of Lezo, Aklan and a
provincial coordinator of Bayan Muna partylist.
According to Baldomero’s son, Ernan, his father’s case, the first under
Aquino, was recently archived because the arrest warrant issued on January
this year had not been served. The suspect, according to him, has
transferred to another town, eluding arrest.
Meanwhile, the group said it will join the protests in Commonwealth Avenue
on Monday as they reiterate their calls for justice and an end to
extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations. ###
Reference: Cristina Guevarra, Hustisya secretary general 0949-1772928 /
434-2837
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Download and read:
US-Aquino Regime’s First Year Human Rights Situation
in Southern Mindanao Region
July 2010 to July 25, 2011
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ALLIANCE OF CONCERNED TEACHERS
2/F Teachers’ Center, Mines St. cor. Dipolog St., Bgy. VASRA, Quezon City,
Philippines
Telefax 453-9116 Mobile 09178502124; 0920-9220817 Email act_philippines@yahoo.com
Website www.actphils.com
Member, Education International
Reference: Mr. Benjie Valbuena
Vice-President
Cellphone No.: 09182399222
TEACHERS GIVE PRESIDENT BENIGNO AQUINO A
FAILING MARK AFTER ONE YEAR
“After a year, teachers are rated by their superiors based on their
performance. Now, after the one year of President Benigno Aquino III as
President of the Republic of the Philippines, we teachers will rate his
performance. We give him a failing mark for his performance in education,”
Mr. Benjie Valbuena, the Vice-Chairperson of the Alliance of Concerned
Teachers said.
"In just one year, the Aquino administration has significantly worsened
the crisis in education sector. Because of a lack of funding and
preparation bordering on criminal negligence, Universal Kindergarten, as
the initial phase of his K+12 program, has been implemented with the
massive deployment of grossly underpaid and underqualified volunteer
teachers. A perennial shortage in classrooms, teachers, textbooks,
sanitation facilities and even chairs reflects the lack of concern to a
very important basic service which is education. Even tertiary education
in our State Colleges and Universities remain to be inaccessible since
tuition and other fees continue to rise every year. This is a major
problem that worries us,” Mr. Valbuena continued, “this present
government, just like its predecessors, gives priority to other matters
when it comes to the allocation of our National budget like payment of
foreign debt and military budget, over the basic needs of our citizens
like education.”
“President Noynoy Aquino has expressed his desire for quality education
during his first State of the Nation address last year. Unless he fulfills
substantial reforms like additional budget for the education sector and
the realization of a nationalist, scientific and mass-oriented education
curriculum, the quality of education that we want will remain to be a mere
illusion,” Mr. Valbuena concluded.#####
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Office of Representative Antonio L. Tinio
ACT Teachers Party-List
House of Representatives
NEWS RELEASE
July 25, 2011
References: ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. Antonio L. Tinio (0920-922-0817)
Julie Anne D. Tapit, Media Officer (0915-762-6522)
No coherent vision of development in PNoy's
SONA
Reaction of Rep. Antonio Tinio to the President’s State of the Nation
Address
First of all, President Aquino's SONA was notable for what it left out.
Not a single word on Hacienda Luisita and land reform, the most critical
issue facing the poor. There was hardly a mention of human rights issues,
which is unacceptable given that extrajudicial killings, illegal arrests,
and torture continue to be perpetrated with impunity by the AFP and PNP
under this government's watch. Neither did PNoy say anything about
addressing the high cost of living, the main concern of the majority of
the population.
It should be noted as well that PNoy failed to endorse two key pieces of
legislation that he pledged to support during his presidential
campaign—the Reproductive Health bill and the Freedom of Information bill.
As someone put it, he “chickened out” on these vital concerns at the
crucial moment.
Despite the Malacañang press office’s hype that this year’s SONA would be
about the President’s vision for the country, where's the vision? Absent
from PNoy's SONA is an articulation of his administration's development
plan—how agriculture and industry will be developed, how and what kind of
jobs will be generated, how incomes will be raised, how delivery of social
services will be improved, etc. Where's the plan for modernizing
agriculture (where genuine land reform is key) and the development of
domestic industries? PNoy's SONA was a patchwork of band-aid solutions,
ranging from the Conditional Cash Transfer Program to the DOST’s
anti-dengue mosquito trap, held together not by a coherent vision of
development but by mere rhetoric—the overworked wang-wang metaphor. #
--
Office of Representative Antonio L. Tinio
ACT Teachers Party-List
"Ang Tunay na Tinig ng Teachers!"
Office Address Rm 618 South Wing, House of Representatives, Batasan Hills,
Quezon City, Philippines 1126
Tel. +632-9316193 +632-9315001 loc. 7317
Email tinio.dal@congress.gov.ph
rep.antonio.tinio@gmail.com
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