PASAKA Confederation of Lumad Organizations in Mindanao and Salugpungan Ta Tanu Igkanukon deputy secretary general Datu Benito Bay-ao chided at the claim of former PASAKA secretary general Jong Monzon that the lumad struggle is a ploy of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
A Regional Trial Court in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur on March 25 dismissed the charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention against human rights and community health advocate Dr. Maria Natividad Castro.
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Southern Mindanao (NDFP) demanded that the military surface peace consultant Ezequiel “ Ka Rey” Cortes Daguman, 50, who has remained missing since March 7.
Pope Francis is set to canonize a journalist revered as a “martyr of press freedom” and may be one of only two saints of the profession.
Bayan Muna Party-list coordinator for General Santos Larry Villegas was wounded in his legs when a gunman broke in his house Sunday morning.
Lumad school volunteer teacher Chad Booc sustained very serious injuries from multiple gunshot wounds which shows intent to kill, a preliminary autopsy report said, casting doubts on the military’s claim that Booc and four others engaged them in an encounter in Davao de Oro last February 23.
Chad Booc, Gelejurain Ngujo II were part of a team doing field research on the situation of the Lumad schools before they and three others who assisted them were killed by the military.
Disbelief and grief was followed by condemnation as relatives and friends question the military reports that two volunteer teachers for Lumad schools — Chad Booc and Gelejurain Ngujo II — were among the five “rebels” killed in an encounter in Barangay Andap, New Bataan, Davao de Oro.
The Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) questioned irregularities in the arrest of community doctor Natividad ‘Naty’ Castro last week.
Doctors, health workers, development workers and colleagues of community doctor Naty Castro reiterated their call for her release as they gathered Monday, Feb. 21 in University of the Philippines Manila.