“They say there is no more pork or PDAF but why are congressmen and senators allowed to determine projects worth P 24 million? The mere fact that legislators each have P24M of hard projects practically at their disposal and there is no semblance of realignment on the president’s allocation, so far, is proof that the pork barrel still exists,” said Gabriela Partylist Representative Luzviminda Ilagan.
Aerial bombs launched by government troops against Muslim rebels and more fires in Barangay Santa Catalina Monday worried displaced residents who said relatives and neighbors were trapped there.
Davao City Police Chief Superintendent Ronaldo dela Rosa confirmed (the threats) and added that he had briefed SM Ecoland’s security team few days ago to tighten their watch because of information from intelligence of “terror” threats, but said this one “got away.”
“Mainit sila sa American brand (They hate American brand),” dela Rosa said.
Brad Adams, Asia director of HRW reacted over this report. “Government forces should not be making blanket assumptions about whether individuals are rebels based on whether they have proper documents or not. Officials can check those leaving the conflict zone, but they need to ensure that civilians have safe passage and are not put at unnecessary risk.”
By Don J. Pagusara
In our little corner of humankind — in the center of the Pork Barrel Scam and the little war between the Moro rebels and the government soldiers — the long-term need for genuine leaders is cried out silently, eternally. This is also found in the heart of every Filipino who has long been deprived of the quality of life that equals his/her dream for a humane humanity.
“It’s frustrating how the government has handled the security, why the coasts weren’t secured and could not prevent the MNLF from entering,
and how they are handling the situation right now. We don’t know what areas are safe, which roads are secured and which establishments are
open,” a debater from the Ateneo de Zamboanga team said.
by ANDREA MALAYA M. RAGRAGIO
This packing up and moving out, in turn, form ideas of what choices are more valued, or esteemed, in our collective hearts and minds. If moving abroad or into the national center (working, studying,
marrying) is seen as a sign of having made it economically, socially, and even culturally upscale, then my move would be deemed unusual indeed.
As strong words flow and fighting continues in the city, for evacuees living off at city’s main grandstand, they only have memories of their ordeal and a craving to survive.
by JOHN RIZLE. L. SALIGUMBA Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman said 62,000 people have fled from barangays affected with…
Benjie Planos, a Bisaya settler living among the Manobos, and other leaders of KASAKA had been receiving death threats from the Philippine Army’s 26th Infantry Battalion and the paramilitary group Bagani. the militarization, KASAKA leaders said, is linked with the entry of New Britain Palm Oil Ltd, which is eyeing KASAKA’s ancestral domain.
