DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Does Rodrigo Duterte, former president and long-time mayor of Davao City, deserve this year’s Datu Bago Award?
This question was raised after the Datu Bago Awards Organization announced last week that Duterte, popularly called Digong, will be the only awardee for the 87th Araw ng Dabaw celebration this month.
The Datu Bago Awards was created in 1969 by the late Mayor Elias Lopez to recognize Dabawenyos and Davao residents who “contributed to the development of the city with exemplary competence and dedication and who best serves as a model of excellence and as inspiration to the residents of Davao.”
This year, the awards group said they “suspended” the evaluation process of the other five nominees and decided to solely confer the annual award to Duterte.
The announcement was made in a media briefing by City Councilor Pilar Braga, who chairs the board of trustees of the awards organization.
Braga they are awarding Duterte “for his exceptional and transformative contributions to the city’s progress and development” as mayor for seven terms or 21 years from 1988 to 1998, 2001-2010, and 2013 to 2016.
She added that “it is high time and it’s the best time for Dabawenyos to show appreciation and thanks” to Duterte.
A press release commended Duterte for “(h)is emphasis on inclusive governance and community empowerment has fostered a culture of unity, resilience, and progress among Davaoeños, ensuring that no one is left behind in the city’s journey toward prosperity and progress.”
Unethical, contradictory
But a member of the civil society in Davao City called out the awards on ethical and political grounds.
Malu Abella Lopez, civil society leader and Martial Law survivor, said conferring Duterte this award is “unethical” since Duterte’s children, Sebastian and Paulo hold positions in local politics (as mayor and congressman) and national politics as well as with Vice President Sara.
Lopez said the board should also look into Duterte’s presidency, where his favored relations with China for Build, Build, Build “compromised Philippine interests”.
She said this compromise is contradictory to the legacy of the name of the award, Datu Bago, who was hailed by historians as a local hero who fought Spanish aggression away from the Davao Gulf.
“How can Duterte be an awardee supposed to be inspired by Datu Bago when he compromised the Philippines and its territory and sovereignty by his dalliance with China when was president? How can he be an awardee when is the opposite of Datu Bago?” asked Lopez.
Legacy questioned
As to the issue of legacy, Lopez questioned the timing as Duterte is facing an investigation from the International Criminal Court for his war on drugs campaign that compromised human rights.
“Yung legacy kasi ni (The legacy of) Duterte only history can decide. Right now, it’s not the right timing because he is being accused of blatant violations of human rights, (his case in the) International Court. So, if Braga thinks that he deserves it, she is not the right person to judge,” she added.
Braga, the only remaining senior councilor since the post-EDSA 1988 election, has been allied with Duterte’s various local parties through the decades, from Lakas Dabaw to Hugpong ng Tawong Lungsod.
Lopez also scrutinized the so-called “Duterte factor” in local politics as “strong leadership”, as he points out that democratic spaces such as criticisms and holding rallies are gradually dying out as the Duterte local dynasty imposes fear on the public.
“He killed the opposition. That is very anti-democratic. How can you say na progressive ang Davao when there is not one councilor opposing him? Walang (there’s no) check and balance,” she said.
Another controversy tainting Duterte is his close ties with Apollo Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and Sonshine Media Network (SMNI), who is facing sex and human trafficking cases in the United States and a Congressional probe on irregularities and violations of his broadcasting franchise.
Duterte was recently assigned as “administrator” of Quiboloy’s properties as he remains in hiding to evade arrests.
A collective effort
Lopez further stressed that Davao City’s progress through the decades cannot be attributed to one person as it is a collective effort.
Lopez has been involved in various movements in decades to shape local development such as women empowerment.
“It’s too early to judge him in the context of historical perspective. When he had this Women’s Code and Women’s Desk in our LGU hindi naman nya work yun. Work naman yun ng (that wasn’t his work, it was the work of) civil society to push for that, nag-agree lang sya (he just approved it), it did not come from him. He was mayor, he is being paid to make progressive developments sa city,” Lopez pointed out.
Students’ reactions
Some students interviewed by Davao Today shared that the Datu Bago Awards should find more relevance by recognizing ordinary people making extraordinary services.
Irish, a student from the University of Mindanao, said that while Duterte has contributed to the city, it is also best to recognize health frontliners in the city during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Madami gud nangyari (A lot has happened) during the pandemic and alam natin paano sila nag (and we knew their) sacrifice for us even. Siguro (Maybe) it’s high time (also to) give back (to the) modern day heroes,” she said.
A student of Ateneo de Davao University who refused to give his name said the award is “not relatable because of its elitist nature.” He suggested the award-giving body should expand its qualification to recognize inspiring individuals from different sectors of the city.
Past Datu Bago awardees include leaders and trailblazers from civil society, public service, business, medical profession, arts and culture, journalism, environment conservation, and activism. (davaotoday.com)
]]>The visit to Germany of Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the scion of the notorious Marcos family, signifies more than just a routine diplomatic visit. It encapsulates a convergence of historical legacies and contemporary challenges.
While Marcos Jr. may seek to portray his engagements with Filipino communities and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as acts of solidarity, his visit cannot be divorced from the enduring impact of his father’s labor export policy. Initiated by Ferdinand Marcos Sr., this policy has left an indelible mark on the Philippines, perpetuating a cycle of dependency on remittances from OFWs. By prioritizing overseas employment over domestic job creation and economic development, the policy has fostered structural inequalities and hindered the country’s ability to address systemic issues of poverty and unemployment. As Marcos Jr. steps foot on German soil, the implications of his visit reverberate through Philippine society, prompting reflection on the legacy of authoritarianism, economic exploitation, and human rights abuses that continue to shape the nation’s trajectory.
The rise of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to political prominence, propelled by his alignment with former President Rodrigo Duterte, casts a shadow over the Philippines’ struggle for human rights and accountability. The Duterte administration’s policies, including the controversial “war on drugs” and counterinsurgency campaign, have resulted in widespread human rights violations and attacks on democratic institutions. These policies have led to extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and the suppression of dissenting voices, targeting not only drug suspects but also human rights activists, journalists, and political opponents. The atrocities committed under Duterte’s tenure have perpetuated a culture of impunity and fear among Filipinos, particularly those from marginalized communities.
In this context, Marcos Jr.’s visit to Germany not only highlights concerns about human rights and accountability in the Philippines but also underscores broader challenges facing democratic institutions and the rule of law. As the son of a dictator who ruled with an iron fist, Marcos Jr.’s political ascent raises questions about the resilience of democratic norms and the specter of authoritarianism in the Philippines. His alignment with Duterte’s administration further compounds these concerns, as it signifies a continuation of policies that have disregarded human rights and undermined democratic principles. The killing of broadcast commentator Percy Lapid is just one of the killings under Marcos Jr.’s watch, then there are recent violations last year. There was the abduction of two young environmental activists in Bataan which the military falsely claimed them to be New People’s Army surrenderees, there’s the deportation of Swiss-Filipina activist Edna Becher last December 2023 and very recently, Dutch-Filipina activist Marikit Saturay among others.
Marcos Jr.’s visit to Germany, a bastion of democracy and human rights, thus presents a critical test for Germany and the European Union (EU)’s commitment to upholding these values on the global stage. It challenges them to hold Marcos Jr. accountable for his family’s legacy of repression and to scrutinize their engagement with his administration in light of its human rights record.
Additionally, the proposed deal to supply drones to the Philippines for maritime security amidst ongoing human rights violations raises ethical dilemmas for Germany and the EU. Providing military support to a regime implicated in systemic human rights abuses risks undermining efforts to promote democracy, peace, and stability in the region. Therefore, Germany and the EU must carefully consider the implications of their actions and prioritize human rights and the rule of law in their engagements with the Philippines.
Beyond the diplomatic niceties, Marcos Jr.’s visit to Germany serves a more insidious purpose: the rehabilitation of the Marcos family’s tarnished reputation. This “junket”, part of a series of international trips, aims to whitewash the dark legacy of the Marcos regime, characterized by corruption, human rights abuses, and authoritarian rule. Despite attempts to rebrand the family’s image, the collective memory of those who suffered under their rule remains indelible. Germany and the EU must remain vigilant, recognizing that the persistence of impunity and injustice threatens the fabric of democratic societies and undermines efforts to build a more just and equitable world.
In the face of Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s visit to Germany, the imperative for action is clear. Germany and the EU must reaffirm their commitment to human rights and accountability, both in their dealings with the Philippines and on the global stage. Filipinos abroad, particularly those in Germany and EU countries, must actively engage in advocacy for human rights, transparency, and accountability in their homeland. Through collective action and solidarity, they can amplify their voices and contribute to fostering positive change, holding leaders like Marcos Jr. accountable for their actions and striving towards a future where human rights are upheld for all.
]]>DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Daily wage earners in Davao City are not satisfied with the new salary increase of only P38 daily in Region 11 announced by the Department of Labor and Employment XI.
The wage increase under Wage Order No. RBXI-22 will be in two tranches this year. The first tranche of the P19 increase was implemented on March 6, while the second tranche will take effect on September 1.
The previous minimum daily wage in the Davao Region was P437 for agricultural workers and P443 for non-agricultural workers.
The new daily wages will now be P481 for non-agriculture workers and P476 for agriculture workers.
Domestic workers or house helpers will have a new minimum wage of P6,000 monthly in chartered cities and first-class municipalities and P5,000 for other municipalities effective March 6.
DOLE XI records show that there are around 100,000 minimum wage earners in private establishments in Davao Region, along with almost 65,000 domestic workers.
But daily wage earners interviewed by Davao Today said the wage hike is not enough because of the high prices of commodities.
For Grace Ambara, a convenience store cashier whose husband is also a daily wage earner, the P19 increase for the next few months “would always fall short” for the needs of their children.
“Unsa ra man nang dise nuebe pesos kung buot huna hunaon. Sa balon pa lang sa akong mga anak, bayad sa rent sa balay, kuryente, suga, tapos among pagkaon. Sometimes naa may alamutan sa school akong mga anak, projects makuhaan pa ang among budget, (What’s 19 pesos if you think of it. I need to budget for my children’s allowance, rent for our house, electricity bills, then there’s food. Sometimes my children need to contribute to school projects, and that is deducted from our budget.)” she said.
Nelson, 35 years old, is thankful but wishes for a much higher daily salary hike. He works in an office in a service company but his and his wife’s income still fall short of their daily spending.
“Nagasahod kog naa sa 30 plus pero (I earn around P30,000 monthly, but) to tell you honestly kulang pa rin (that’s stil not enough). Dati si misis ko housewife lang talaga yan sya (My wife used to be a housewife) but now she needs to work kahit nasa bahay kay para may isustain sa school ng mga anak ko, public school pa gani na, (so that we can sustain the school expenses of our children, and they are in public school by the way.)” Nelson said.
Security guard Jake Lipada, 27, also thinks that there is a need for a higher salary as there are always unprecedented expenses like hospital bills or contributions at school. These expenses are not “considered” in their daily budget and they would always rely on lenders that cost a big chunk of their monthly income.
“Wala man kay maipon kay sakto ra man sa adlaw adlaw, minsan kulang pa gani. Ang ending gyud duol kag 5-6 kay wala na may makuot, maong daku gihapon nga problema inig ting singil na, (You can’t save money because you need to spend every day, and sometimes it’s not enough. You end up asking for 5-6 loans because you run out of money. Then you worry if they come up to ask you to pay your loans.)” Lipada said.
DOLE XI Regional Director Attorney Randolf Pensoy said the P38-daily wage increase was determined with consultations with companies and labor groups, and studying data on the socio-economic situation in the region.
“The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) addressed this with three principles, necessity, timely and predictability.
Now we consider the consumer price index, the socioeconomic conditions of our region of which we are different from other regions, ang iyang kapasidad ng mga tao nga mupuyo ug ang iyang sweldo kung asa kutob ang iyang purchasing power dire sa atoang rehiyon, (their living capacity and the purchasing power of their wages here in the region.)” said Atty. Pensoy.
Other factors DOLE considered are the capacity of the employer to pay, the investment growth in the region, and inflation.
Pensoy said that for a family of five, the new minimum wage is enough to support their daily needs.
But for Kilusang Mayo Uno in Southern Mindanao, the increase is just a “band-aid solution” to the worsening economic crisis in the region, as they call for a daily wage increase of P750.
“Amo man nang giwelcome ang ilahang gihatag nga umento sa sahod pero ang gamay kaayo ng umento wala may epekto gihapon sa mga trabahante gumikan sa kagamay sa usbaw sa suholan. Dili gyud kini paigo ngadto sa mga panginahanglanon sa trabahante ilabina diha sa inadlaw adlaw nga panginahanglan, (We will welcome the wage hike they provide now, but this is meager and doesn’t bring any effect for the workers because it’s a small increase. It’s not even enough for the worker to spend for their daily needs.)” said Renyboy Baliguat, campaign officer of Kilusang Mayo Uno-Southern Mindanao.
The economic research group IBON Foundation blamed the Rice Tarrification Law enacted in February 2019 for the drastic soaring price of rice from 4.5% in February 2019 to 23.7% in February 2024. Rice prices soared from an average of P43 per kilo in 2019 to P56/ kilo in February this year.
IBON urges the Marcos Jr administration to implement “more effective measures” such as stopping rice import liberalization, increasing wages and assistance to poor households, and supporting local producers to boost the economy. (davaotoday.com)
]]>DAVAO CITY, Philippines – For working women and mothers, the Marcos Jr. presidency should provide jobs, decent wages, and lower prices of commodities to address economic woes and not tinker with the Constitution.
This was the message of the women’s group Gabriela during the 114th International Women’s Day on March 8, as its chapters held rallies in various cities including Davao City at Freedom Park.
The rally in Davao City carried the theme “Panginabuhian, katungod, kaugalingnan, dili Charter Change o ChaCha sa rehimeng US-Marcos Jr” (Jobs, rights, independence, not charter change of the US-Marcos Jr regime), where groups assert for “livable wages, decent jobs, lower prices of basic commodities.”
GABRIELA-Southern Mindanao Secretary General Rose Hayahay said that two years into the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos Jr., he has not fulfilled his promises to help Filipino families.
One particular promise Marcos Jr. made was to lower the price of rice to twenty pesos per kilo, as prices have risen to 50 pesos or more in the past few months.
“Sa kasamtangan, daghan kaayo ang ginasagubang nga krisis ang kababayen-an ug katawhan – sangko-langit nga pagtaas sa presyo sa palaliton, ubos nga sweldo, kontraktwalisasyon sa pamuo, kagutom, ug pagkaguba sa kinaiyahan (As of now, women and men have faced a lot of crises – prices have risen sky-high, salaries remain low, there’s contractualization, hunger and destruction of the environment),” said Hayahay.
Hayahay said Gabriela and other groups oppose proposals by Marcos and his allies on Congress to amend economic provisions of the Constitution, which will allow foreign ownership of local resources and businesses.
“They want to push for unlimited entry of big foreign corporations here in the Philippines, to allow them to possess land and resources. Cha-cha is selling out our country to foreign capitalists. What will remain for us now,” Hayahay said.
In the rally led by Gabriela in Manila, the group’s secretary general Clarice Palce said “Granting 100% foreign ownership in the country is not the remedy for the pressing issues afflicting the nation, such as rampant corruption, the absence of national industries, limited access to education, and low wages.”
“Despite allocating meager budgets to basic social services and neglecting our local industries, the government has the audacity to downplay its shortcomings, attributing them to certain restrictions in the Constitution. However, in reality, the root cause lies in their own greed and disregard for the needs of the Filipino people,” she added.
Youth activists in Davao also paid tribute to women leaders of Mindanao who have passed away such as the Talaingod chieftain Bai Bibiyaon Ligkayan Bigkay who fought for ancestral rights and Lumad schools, and youth activist and writer Benjaline Hernandez.
Other allied groups such as Transmision Piston reiterate their call to stop the Public Utility Modernization Program as it affects the livelihood of drivers who have families to support and children to send to school. (davaotoday.com)
]]>DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Coming off an abusive relationship, Michelle (not her real name), age 26, said reporting her ordeal from her live-in boyfriend was “not an easy decision to make”, but had to do it for her three-year-old daughter.
Michelle once lived with her ex-partner four years ago after graduating from college, and when she was applying for a teaching job in New Zealand, she found out she got pregnant.
When the pandemic struck, her partner lost his job and was hooked on online gambling while she juggled mothering duties with an online tutoring job, which was the start of their troubles.
“Nung umpisa, mainit lang ulo nya tapos sigaw sigaw lang. Then eventually kapag may misunderstanding kami bisan petty lang nasasaktan nya na ako. At first gina understand ko pero eventually napuno din ako and super takot ako for my daughter kasi nakikita na niya, (At first, he was just hot-tempered and was screaming a lot. Then eventually, he hurt me even when we had a petty misunderstanding. I tried to understand things at first, but eventually I had enough and I was super afraid for my daughter because she saw what he did)” Michelle said.
Michelle finally called the police when her partner tried strangling her during a fight, even as she was holding their baby. Police arrested her ex-partner, but she decided not to pursue a legal case out of pity.
Michelle is now separated from her partner, as she now works at a call center company to support her daughter.
Post-pandemic rise
Michelle’s case is one of thousands of cases of violence against women and children (VAWC) reported in Davao City.
In 2023, Davao City reported the highest number of VAWC cases with 2,707.
This data is provided by the city government’s Integrated Gender and Development Division (IGDD), which monitors and provides legal, counseling, and support services for VAWC cases reported or referred to their office, as the city observes International Women’s Month.
The agency reported that in 2023, there had been 1,439 cases of economic abuse, 755 psychological or emotional abuse, 463 physical abuse, and 50 sexual abuse cases.
But these figures have cases that were reported late, says IGGD head Lorna Mandin, who explained that there were abuses experienced during the pandemic but were not reported due to community quarantine restrictions and limited access to IGGD in that period.
VAWC cases recorded by IGGD before the pandemic in 2019 were at 2540, and decreased sharply during the pandemic years with 1,197 cases (2020) and 999 cases (2021). In 2022, there were 1,864 cases reported.
The increase in cases is mostly attributed to economic and social factors.
“Its high kasi ang mga babae baya walang mga trabaho, naa sila sa balay ug economically dependent. So naay tendency nga abusohon sila kay ubos ang ilang tan-aw sa ilang kaugalingon, ubos ang tan-aw sa lalaki sa iyaha (It’s high because women don’t have jobs, they stay at home and are economically dependent. So, there is tendency to be abused because men look down on them, and they also look down on themselves),” Mandin said.
The IGDD assisted a total of 1,341 walk-in clients in that year. Some cases involved seeking financial support from their ex-partners for their children.
But not all cases involved physical abuse. There is the case of Karen Grace (not her real name), age 19, who stopped schooling because of the toll of verbal abuse she received from her stepmother since she was aged 9.
Karen Grace said she suffered from this abuse when her father was out at work.
“Dati katong naa pa ko sa amoang balay nagapuyo, pag makita ko niya na wala koy ginabuhat yawyawan na dayon ko niya. Ginatawag ko niya nga burikat, gaga, minsan iya kong balikason kay nagpabuhi ra daw ko. Pero kung naa akong papa di ko niya tingugan, (When I was still staying at home, she would berate me when I was not doing anything. She would call me a whore, stupid, and sometimes she would say I was just living off them. But she would not say anything to me when my dad was around)” she said.
Karen is still striving to finish high school, but she has difficulty focusing on her academics as well as her social interaction with schoolmates.
Challenges
Mandin acknowledged several agencies and police force for their contribution to enforce the protection and assistance for women, such as the Women and Children Protection Desk of the Police, Women and Children Protection Units in hospitals, especially at the Southern Philippines Medical Center, and the VAWC desks in barangays for raising awareness on abuse against women.
But Mandin said there are still challenges as women are still reluctant to report abuses to authorities. The IGDD is conducting paralegal training for VAW desk officers in the barangays.
“This is the role of our barangay officials, we need to strengthen the enforcement of laws so that the community will be a safe space for the women,” she said.
Another step in addressing VAWC for IGGD is the use of technology, as they implement the Violence Against Women (VAW) Tracking System (VTS), a web-based data and tracking system that will record and monitor cases that can be accessed by concerned agencies.
Mandin said this will help monitor if cases have been resolved in due time. (davaotoday.com)
]]>DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Even after her death, discussions about Talaingod chieftain Bai Bibyaon Ligkayan Bigkay raise the issue of ancestral rights and red tagging that continue to hound and divide her tribe.
The latest involves her relatives disputing over media on who has the right over her remains.
Last February 23, Bibyaon’s nephew Benito Bigkay and grand-niece Rurelyn Bay-ao Mandacawan, a former Lumad school student and advocate, appeared in a press conference of the government Philippine Information Agency (PIA) claiming that the chieftain should be exhumed from her buried place in Manila for a proper burial in Talaingod.
The relatives also claimed that they were denied communication to Bigkay for years, and are in disbelief that she passed away in Manila on November 20.
Bai Bibyaon was believed to be over 90 years old on her death due to age and poor health. She had been a staunch advocate against military attacks on the Lumad schools and their ancestral domain, the vast Pantaron Range.
But for Benito, he wanted to see proof that his aunt has passed away. “We would believe she has died if they bring her body back here,” he said in his native Manobo during the press conference and was translated by Rurelyn.
Bibyaon has not returned to Talaingod for over a decade after she, other Salugpongan leaders, and teachers were harassed by soldiers and paramilitary forces that forced them to evacuate.
Rurelyn, who accompanied Bibyaon in their campaigns in Manila as an interpreter around 2014, said she last talked with her grand-aunt in 2021 and claimed that she cried and wanted to return home.
The group Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Council of Elders (MIPCEL) backed the relative’s call, saying that indigenous peoples who are not buried in their ancestral land would not have peace in their spirit.
MIPCEL executive director Jake Lanes said they will facilitate the relatives’ request through the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and the Commission on Human Rights to exhume the remains of Bibyaon.
“Used for fundraising”
Another issue raised by Rurelyn is her claim that groups such as Save Our Schools Network and Sabokahan IP Women who supported Bibyaon and the Lumad schools “earned money” by exploiting the chieftain.
“Gigamit si Bibyaon para sa fund raising sa laing nasud padung dire, pero ang mga payrente, pagumangkon, ig-agaw wala gyud katilaw sa income. Naa gani syay nadawat nga awards, iyang nadawat nga kwarta dili deretso sa atoa. (Bibyaon was used to raise funds from other countries, but her relatives, nieces, nephews, and cousins never had received any of this income),” she claimed.
She went further and red-tagged the Lumad schools that she once attended, adding that Bai was used by the New People’s Army for their advocacy.
“Ang Lumad school nagpatakbo, nagplano ani mga “kauban” (The Lumad schools, this was ran and planned by ‘comrades’),” she claimed.
“Si Bai ginagamit siya para dili ipakita ang tinuod nga kahimtang sa komunidad, ginadaot namo ang gobyerno, partikular ang mga sundalo. Gina-ila lang namo nga gobyerno mga NPA, (New People’s Army) po, (Bai was used to spread lies about our community, discrediting the government, especially the soldiers. We were made to recognize the NPA as the government)” Rurelyn added.
Rurelyn’s present statement is a turnaround from her previous stand as a spokesperson for the Sabokayan Youth Group which advocated for the Lumad’s right to education and ancestral land. (watch: https://fb.watch/qyI54BodkA/ and https://fb.watch/qyI5Y1UEI2/)
After she returned to Talaingod in 2021, Rurelyn appeared in videos of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and echoed the group’s accusation that the Lumad schools are established by rebels.
Bibyaon’s last request
But Bibyaon’s niece, Bai Lita Ambuat, who has been the late chieftain’s companion and confidant for over 20 years, admonished Rurelyn and Benito’s claims.
In a video statement posted by Save Our Schools Southern Mindanao on March 3, Ambuat reminded her grand-niece that Bibyaon chose to stay in Manila even as the rest of the tribe decided to leave Manila and UCCP Haran and returned to Talaingod.
“Think about this Lang-Lang (Rurelyn), when they wanted to get Ino (Bibyaon) in Manila, she refused to go back to the mountains because she is standing up for all of you, Lang-Lang,” Ambuat said in a translated video.
“Leave Sabokahan and those who helped out of this. For Ino and me, it is our right to stay in Manila, to stand up for your younger generation, to stand up for our ancestral land,” she added.
Ambuat also revealed that it was Bibyaon’s request that she be buried right away wherever she died.
“I fulfilled what she requested long before. She said, bury me right away, don’t allow my grandchildren or my nieces and nephews to take advantage of me. Surely the soldiers will exploit this and make money out of my death,” Ambuat said.
She added that exhuming the remains is a grave offense for the Manobo. “It is a grave offense to our rights as Manobo, to exhume what has been buried. That is prohibited.”
She had these words to Benito, “Let’s respect each other, respect our traditions, let the dead remain buried.”
“Don’t think of making money out of this. It is not in our culture to be manipulated! We don’t allow to be used for money,” Ambuat added.
The Save Our Schools Southern Mindanao has also released a statement in response to Rurelyn and Benito’s claims.
“By arrogating the authority to speak for her and make decisions on her behalf, they have stripped away her agency as an empowered female warrior and tribal leader. They have belittled Bai Bibyaon’s passing by reducing it to baseless accusations, red-tagging, and even unwarranted demands for financial gain and royalties” their statement said.
Lumad groups also slammed MIPCEL in the past for accusing without proof that the Lumad schools of having no school permits or consent from the IP leaders to be established. (davaotoday.com)
]]>Early last February, I had the chance to visit UP Los Baños for a meeting and was fortunate enough to visit this year’s February Fair.
The UPLB Feb Fair, as we used to call it, is a long militant tradition that can be traced back to when Ferdinand Marcos Sr declared Martial Law on September 21, 1972, wherein UPLB students and faculty gathered a month after Martial Law and camped out at the Freedom Park as a creative and militant protest to express dissent. It was later moved to February, and usually on the week when Valentine’s Day will fall. Until now, UPLB Feb Fair continues its militant tradition for nationalism and democracy.
One of the calls during the February 14, 2024 Feb Fair program was for the repeal of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) or RA 11203 which Duterte signed also on Valentine’s Day five years ago with a promise that this law will lower the price of rice.
When Duterte took office in June 2016, the average retail price for a kilo of well-milled rice (WMR) was P41. 35 and regular milled rice (RMR) was P36.95 per kilo on average. Presently, the local well-milled rice is at P55 per kilo, while the local regular-milled rice is at P53 per kilo, local premium rice is at P60 per kilo, and the local special rice is at P68 per kilo.
The imported well-milled rice is at P 58 per kilo and the imported special rice is at P68 per kilo.
Just like the other promise by Duterte to end the rice cartel, lowering the prices of rice remained unfulfilled, and how much more for that Marcos-Duterte campaign promise in 2022 of lowering the price of rice to P20 per kilo.
It is worse now, as the Philippines being a small country ended up as the top importer of rice in the whole world. In September last year, we exceeded China’s imports. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) noted the Philippines made a 3.9 million metric tons (MTS) import from January-December 2023.
We actually warned before that importation will not do any good for our rice industry as early as 2018, see Death by Importation, a PH’s Hunger Game | Davao Today. Yet, the government never listens.
A year after its implementation, we conducted a study within our network to see the impacts of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), particularly the influx of imported rice among Mindanao rice farmers. We noted a significant reduction in farmers’ income, due to the cheap buying price of palay.
The government had argued that RA 11203 will collect tariffs to fund of Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF). In fact, they were actually proud that they exceeded their collection target on tariffs from P10 billion to P15 billion in the first year of the implementation of RTL.
However, our farmers lost their income, to around P85 billion. Thus, simple common sense would tell us that Filipino rice farmers incurred a net loss of around P70 billion pesos.
Duterte back in 2019 promised us of cheaper rice with his Rice Tariffication Law. The Marcos-Duterte Uni-Team in 2022 promised to lower the price of rice to P20 per kilo. These promises clearly remained as promises. Worse, the Marcos-Duterte Uni-Team holding the top highest offices in our country are now more occupied with squabbling for their self-serving political interest rather than serving the interest of Filipino farmers and consumers.
Clearly, RTL and the current administration do not serve the best interests of Filipino farmers and consumers. They are like pests, consuming our nation’s rice industry. Therefore, there is a need to scrap Duterte’s Rice Tariffication Law, and come May 2025, we must also get rid of politicians who only serve their personal political survival over their oath to serve the Filipino people.
]]>DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte posted a statement on her Facebook page commemorating the 38th EDSA People Power anniversary Sunday that was deleted hours later.
Two days later, on Tuesday, Duterte explained she had to delete the post to remain consistent. Because of this, I removed the Edsa anniversary post from my social media page,” Duterte said in a statement.
Since her assumption as vice president, Duterte has not posted a statement during the EDSA anniversary, a historic moment in the nation where millions marched on EDSA to protest vote rigging in the 1986 snap elections which led to the ouster of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr from his 20-year rule.
But now, with Marcos’ son Ferdinand Jr as president, EDSA has not been declared a holiday unlike in the past.
Duterte also mentioned that she deleted her post to maintain her consistent stand about EDSA.
“What I said in 2017 regarding the February 25 EDSA anniversary has never changed. My position remains the same today,” she said.
Sara Duterte’s previous Facebook account had been deleted in 2019, but netizens re-posted her statement where she casts doubt on the relevance of the event.
“I find it hard to understand why this bloodless revolution has become the standard definition of freedom for our country and this standard is forced down our throats by a certain group of individuals who think they are better than anyone else,” she posted this on her old Facebook account.
But in that same year, Duterte was quoted by newspapers remembering EDSA 1986 as a very important moment, when her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, woke her and the family that night and went to the streets.
“I have a memory of myself standing on the stairs of the San Pedro church bell tower, listening to the incessant ringing of the bells. I did not understand what was happening, but I surmised that it must be something very important because my father had to get me out of bed to watch cheering and partying adults on the streets,” she was quoted saying.
After EDSA People Power, Rodrigo Duterte was appointed OIC Vice Mayor of Davao City, and eventually was elected mayor in 1988, which bolstered his political rise up to the presidency in 2016. The Dutertes campaigned for the presidency of Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III in 2010.
The deleted statement of Duterte urged Filipinos to “remember the lessons of EDSA – the power of unity, the strength of the Filipino spirit, and the importance of standing up for what is right.”
“On this day, we commemorate the brave souls who stood united on the streets of EDSA, fighting for democracy and freedom. Their courage and determination paved the way for a better Philippines, and their sacrifices will never be forgotten,” she said.
A staff from the Office of the Vice President was quoted by Rappler that this post was removed because it was not approved by Duterte.
“There was a system error in the social media team,” the Rappler quoted the message.
Because of these posts, netizens have criticized and poked fun at Sara Duterte’s flip-flopping statements.
“Imagine, Education secretary ka pero you are going against corroborated history and official textbooks,” a netizen reacted on social media.
“Nahihirapan na talaga sila pumuwesto ng saloobin. Unity pa rin ba (They are really having a hard time to make known their stand. Is it still about unity)?,” former Ifugao governor and Congressman Teddy Baguilat said on his Twitter/X account. (davaotoday.com)
]]>DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Apollo Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJOC) and “spiritual adviser” of former President Rodrigo Duterte, remains in hiding as he refuses to appear in a Senate inquiry looking into alleged abuses of his former members.
The self-proclaimed “appointed Son of God” has been subpoenaed twice in the past week to appear in the Senate in Manila, and may face arrest if he does not show up on the next scheduled inquiry on March 5.
The hearing, pushed by Senator Risa Hontiveros, looks into Quiboloy’s alleged involvement in sexual abuses. The Senate last year made a similar inquiry on the religious cult Socorro Bayanihan based in Surigao del Norte.
This is the latest debacle of the 73-year-old Davao-based preacher, who is facing investigation by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on a similar case of trafficking and abuse of women in his KJOC operations in the United States.
He is also invited to the ongoing House committee inquiry on his broadcast network, known for programs that promote red-tagging of activists, on irregularities on its franchise, and on disinformation.
The preacher refuses to appear in the Senate, and in a 36-minute audio recording posted last week on Sonshine Media on YouTube, claimed that there is a plot between the Marcos administration and the United States government to “eliminate” him through rendition. Rendition is the process of surrendering a crime suspect from one state to another to face trial.
Quiboloy also ranted against “leftist” lawmakers who pursued the inquiries in Congress.
The “leftist” lawmakers are not amused by the preacher’s claims. In a statement, Senator Hontiveros said: “Wag pong pa-victim. Ang hinihingi lang sa inyo ay humarap sa mga legal na proseso, kasama ang proseso ng Senate investigation. ‘Wag ninyo pong dalhin sa lenggwahe ng patayan, kahit ‘yan ang nakasanayan ninyo. (Don’t play victim. All we ask is for you to face the legal process, which includes the Senate investigation. Don’t drag this to talks about killing, which is something you are used to.)”
The progressive Makabayan Bloc reacted to Quiboloy’s statement saying he was pursued by women because he got rich and he had rejected their advances.
“’wag ka ngang feelingero (Don’t flatter yourself),” Castro said in a press conference last week, “Ang akala mo ay hinahabol ka ng mga kababaihan, hinahabol ka dahil sa accountability mo at pananagutan mo sa mga kababaihan. (You assume women are chasing you, but actually you are being pursued to make you accountable for what you did to them.)”
Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas also said the women who accused him of trafficking want justice.
Quiboloy said he will not face the Senate inquiry as he has been pre-judged already.
“You already convicted me in your hearing; that’s wrong. I will not subject myself to unfair statements. I will not subject myself to injustices done under the cloak of a Senate hearing. But I will face you on one condition: I will face any of you even though you have 100 witnesses or pay 100 witnesses. I will face you anywhere, anytime in a court of law,” Quiboloy said.
Quiboloy started his KJOC in the 1980s in Davao City, and his ministry expanded decades later, acquiring a broadcasting franchise and building a “prayer mountain” in Tamayong that is controversial over the murder of an indigenous leader. (davaotoday.com)
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