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The body is and will continue to be an important instrument of protest for two reasons. First, in societies where nothing seems to be controllable by the disgruntled masses – not the wages, not the prices of commodities, not the dispensing of justice nor the actions of political leaders – the body would seem to be one of the last bastions of individual autonomy – clothes, hair, what you put on it and what you take (or not take) into it. Second, it is easily perceivable that this autonomy itself can come under attack by exactly the same uncontrollable and repressive factors and conditions.

“I’ll give you 48 hours from this (Thursday) afternoon. We would like to talk to you. We will wait. But after that we will issue the reward and have people look for you,” Duterte said.

By TYRONE A. VELEZ Davao Today Davao City– Police released results of their investigation saying that Monday’s cinema blasts came…

“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.