Philippines’s First Gentleman drops all defamation suits against journalists

Reporters Without Borders today welcomed the news that Mike Arroyo, the husband of President Gloria Arroyo, has decided to drop all law suits against the country’s journalists and publishers.

The worldwide press freedom organisation hailed the exemplary campaign waged by Philippines’ journalist organisations and called for press offences to be decriminalised.
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Canada seeks to boost peace efforts, adds 40-million pesos to Mindanao Trust Fund

DAVAO CITY ?Driven by it’s commitment to support peace and development
efforts in Mindanao, the Canadian government, through the Canadian
International Development Agency (CIDA), has recently provided an additional
P40 million to the Mindanao Trust Fund (MTF), further boosting the
implementation of community-driven development for the conflict-affected and
vulnerable areas.
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Thanks to Army, ComVal Remains ‘Valley of Death,’ Karapatan

DAVAO CITY — Compostela Valley Province still bears the name it earned a long time ago for what could only be blamed on the military — the Valley of Death, the human-rights group Karapatan said.

This, the group said, is a result of the continued rule of military brutality and fascism in the area under 1001st Brigade-Philippine Army (PA) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
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Moro groups hit AFP deployment in Mindanao as stage for massive fraud

Moro groups are wary that electoral fraud will occur again in ARMM.

This after Armed Forces Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon declared that more checkpoints will be established on electoral hotspots to ensure peaceful and orderly elections.

Suara Bangsamoro Partylist chair Zaynab Ampatuan said “General Esperon is merely justifying stronger military presence in Mindanao this elections to repeat what happened in 2004.”
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Abduction of Joe Burgos? son another facet of climate of impunity in Philippines ? Bayan Muna

MANILA — Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casi?o today renewed the militant partylist group?s call for the immediate surfacing of Jonas Joseph Burgos.

?The abduction of Jay-Jay ups the ante on enforced disappearances. Unlike previous cases under the current administration, he was taken in a mall in Quezon City in the middle of the day in front of many people. Only the Gloria?s security forces have the means and the motive to get Jay-jay,? Rep. Casi?o said.
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