Human Rights

Passage of Anti-Terror Bill Tied to Military Aid

MANILA — The passage of the anti-terror bill is expected to spur more economic and military aid for the Arroyo government, in exchange for deepening its involvement in the US-led ?War on Terror? and protecting America?s economic stake in the Philippines, says independent think-tank IBON Foundation.

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Extrajudicial Killings and Sham Investigation

The presidential order forming the commission is widely seen more as a political gimmick rather than as a major step toward stopping the extrajudicial killings. It was meant to mollify public outrage over the killings and clear the constitutionally impaired presidency of possible accountability.

By the Policy Studies, Publication and Advocacy Program
Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG)

MANILA — Unless the Melo Commission gets to the bottom of the extrajudicial killings, it will suffer the same fate as previous presidential probe bodies. The task that challenges the commission is to make itself credible by holding an impartial and independent investigation of the political killings even if this would mean summoning the president for ?command responsibility? as the armed forces? commander-in-chief.

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Underpaid, Under Fire, Under Pressure

Media workers may bask in the limelight and may wield tremendous amount of influence. But, as four topnotch Davao journalists tell davaotoday.com, they are not spared from poverty and the corruption and danger that it brings.

By Grace S. Uddin
davaotoday.com

DAVAO CITY ? Print and broadcast journalists may have relative popularity or notoriety because of the power of information they wield on air or on print.? But that doesn?t mean they are spared from the same hardships suffered by ordinary Filipinos.

Four journalists here shared their own tales of coping with poverty and their meager income, and overcoming the call of the ?envelope?, or bribery.

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