Author Archives: Rae Rival

4 years ago

Political persecution this Christmas season

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Political persecution this Christmas season

As the year comes to a close, the regime seems to be meeting its quota. While we are still under a pandemic and while provinces are still reeling from the effects of the super typhoons, state forces are focusing its attention on arresting activists.

4 years ago

Defend Filipino women, defund NTF-ELCAC

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Defend Filipino women, defund NTF-ELCAC

As a final step towards fascism, the Implementing Rules and Regulation of the Anti-Terror Law has been released in October. Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade, Jr. was quick to red-tag celebrities, duly-elected officers, and critics of the administration.

4 years ago

‘Magtanim ay Di Biro’ in a semi-feudal, semi-colonial country

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‘Magtanim ay Di Biro’ in a semi-feudal, semi-colonial country

In an agricultural country like ours, the biggest budget must be allotted to the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Agrarian Reform. Right now, for every P100 budget, only P2.00 is allotted for agriculture and production. For every P1.00 budget for agriculture, there is P4.00 for the police and military.

4 years ago

Zara Alvarez, human rights worker, mother

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Zara Alvarez, human rights worker, mother

Here I am, writing another piece about a mother. Here I am, writing about the murder of a female human rights activist who was repeatedly threatened and harassed. Here we are mourning the death of another selfless woman who, despite being unjustly incarcerated for almost two years, chose to continue seeking justice for others.

4 years ago

State of the nation’s terror, addressed

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State of the nation’s terror, addressed

The day Duterte signed the Anti-terrorism Law, 11 activists in Cabuyao, Laguna were manhandled by police and military men as they were packing up after a peaceful protest. They were detained without charges. A few days later, the National Vice-Chairperson of Gabriela and Chairperson of Bicolana is arrested based on a trumped up murder case. Jenelyn Nagrampa is also a barangay councilor in Nabua town, Camarines Sur.

4 years ago

Fertilizer scam, pandemic edition

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Fertilizer scam, pandemic edition

Farming in the Philippines has been synonymous to landlessness, debt and drought. Government has always placed agriculture at the bottom of the country’s priorities. But the pandemic showed that in order to survive a lockdown, accessing and securing food is essential. It is ironic then, how a country relying on its farmers for survival neglects its food security frontliners.