Philippines: GABRIELA SEEKS PROBE ON P14.1B C-5 NORTH EXTENSION PROJECT; DISPLACEMENT OF 40,000 FAMILIES LOOM

Gabriela Women’s Partylist Representative Liza Largoza Maza today led
the filing of a resolution seeking to look into P14.1B C5 North
Extension project that is expected to demolish the homes of over
40,000 families in 10 barangays in Quezon City, including those in the
University of the Philippines, in Diliman.
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Congo: IFJ Calls on DRC Prime Minister to Investigate Minister after Beating of Journalists

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today urged the new government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to order an immediate investigation into a minister after he reportedly ordered police officers to beat two journalists in his office in retaliation for a critical news report.
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Philippines: FDC to Senate: Take bold steps to address illegitimate debts

The Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) today expressed its serious disappointment over the decision of Senate Committee on Finance Chair Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile to restore P12.1-billion worth of repayments for questionable loans and slash P4.2 billion from the House approved budget for health services in the Senate version of the 2008 national government budget.
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Philippines: HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYERS CONDEMN CURFEW AND ARREST OF MEDIA AS VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION AND AN ARBITRARY OVERKILL

The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) condemns the imposition of the curfew by Pres. Gloria Arroyo as oppressive, unconstitutional and an arbitrary overkill intended only to instill fear on the people. Article III, Section 6 of the Constitution states that “Neither shall the right to travel be impaired except in the interest of national security, public safety or public health, as may be provided by law.” Absent any law, Pres. Arroyo does not have the authority to impose curfew. The supposed exemptions in the ‘guidelines’ are of no moment, since the order has no constitutional basis in the first place.

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