Author: CHERYLL D. FIEL

This author has written 5 articles

Lawyers say HSA worse than martial law


During the commemoration of the 35th year of declaration of martial law on Sept. 21, different lawyers' organizations in Davao City came together at the Centennial Park not only to light candles for judges, lawyers, and paralegals who were victims of the abusive law. They were also there to denounce the Human Security Act, which they called "illegal." The lawyers describe the present state of the country as even worse than during martial law. They see more human-rights abuses under the law. On the same occasion, the lawyers launched HOTLINE 296-0070; people who are faced with HSA-related violations can call and ask for help. (davaotoday.com photo by Cheryll D. Fiel)

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‘New’ Kadayawan goes back to its tribal roots


Tribal women perform during the opening ceremonies of the Kadayawan Festival last week. (davaotoday.com photo by Tyrone A. Velez) Click here for more Kadayawan pictures.


By TYRONE A. VELEZ and CHERYLL D. FIEL | Davao Today

As the city announced a shift in the way the annual Kadayawan Festival is celebrated -- that is, for one, showcasing Lumad culture and tradition not for tourism's sake -- tribal leaders remain concerned that the festivities hardly depict the struggle of Mindanao's indigenous peoples to pursue their unique way of life and retain control of their ancestral lands, which have been encroached into by big mining companies and plantations.

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Duterte gets more money to spend

By CHERYLL D. FIEL | Davao Today

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte's office will get the biggest chunk -- 190 million -- of the nearly half a billion supplemental budget, which was passed Tuesday on second reading by the City Council. Much of it (180 million) will go to his "peace and order program." He also gets to spend an additional 10 million for doleouts to the city's indigents. On the other hand, the City Social Services and Development Office gets 322,000 pesos.

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Burn, baby, burn


Activists in Davao City burn the effigy of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo during her State of the Nation Address on July 23. According to the activists, Arroyo's promises mean nothing as they protest rampant human-rights violations and the implementation of the Human Security Act, which, they said, will worsen political repression in the Philippines. (Davao Today photos by Cheryll Fiel and Jon Mahinay) MORE ANTI-SONA PHOTOS HERE.

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Anti-SONA protest in Davao City

Below are Davao Today’s pictures taken during the protest rally against the State of the Nation Address by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on July 23. Arroyo’s promises mean nothing to the activists as they protest the rampant human rights violations and the implementation of the Human Security Act, which, they said, will worsen political repression in the Philippines. (Photos by Cheryll Fiel and Jon Mahinay)
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