Politics

?State of War? Displaces, Terrorizes Hundreds

UCCP says soldiers desecrated churches in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. Residents complain that they were used as guides by the soldiers in search of communist guerrillas. Military retorts that these allegations are mere ?insinuations.?

By Cheryll D. Fiel and Grace S. Uddin
davaotoday.com

DAVAO CITY ? Karapatan, the human-rights group, has accused the Philippine military of committing atrocities against civilians in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, in the course of retaliatory operations against the communist New People’s Army (NPA).

According to Karapatan and the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, the military has imposed a curfew in Sta. Cruz, restricted the movement of the residents and workers, and harassed villagers by accusing them of being NPA members.

Early this week, Karapatan spokesman Kelly Delgado presented to the media some of the residents who were forced to flee due to the heavy military operations in their villages. The operations, he said, were in retaliation for the military?s recent skirmish with the communists.

Alfredo Tubale, a resident of Upper Langan, a hamlet in Sta. Cruz town, said his house was among those searched by soldiers in the guise of looking for wounded NPA guerrillas and firearms. “How could we have wounded rebels in our hands? We are not doctors,? Tubale told repoters. ?The wounded are usually brought to hospitals so the military should be looking there instead.?

(more…)

Continue Reading?State of War? Displaces, Terrorizes Hundreds

Citizens’ Congress Finds Arroyo Liable, Urges Her to Vacate Presidency

The Citizens? Congress for Truth and Accountability (CCTA), which investigated the alleged crimes committed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, has come out with its findings.

In a statement released today, the CCTA said that after five months of ?careful review and consideration of the evidence presented,? it found Arroyo ?responsible and liable? for human rights violation, graft and corruption and the electoral fraud that took place in the 2004 presidential elections.

The CCTA asked Arroyo to ?immediately vacate the Office of the President so that she can be held accountable for her acts constituting betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, bribery and culpable violation of the Constitution.?

The CCTA was formed by various groups and individuals after the efforts to impeach Arroyo failed.

(more…)

Continue ReadingCitizens’ Congress Finds Arroyo Liable, Urges Her to Vacate Presidency

The Arroyo regime?s inquisition

If Defensor and the rest of his posse want Satur Ocampo et al to disappear, then they better come up with something stronger against them. If they are convinced about the sins of these people, they better prove it in the court of law. Otherwise, they have no business turning our democratic justice system on its head.

There?s a reason why presumption of innocence is the foundation of our justice system. There?s also a reason why the burden of proving the guilt of the accused lies in the accuser.

That reason is this: democracy.

Without those basic rights, democracy would be a sham. Without those fundamental principles guiding our justice system, we would be in an autocratic state.

Those who cannot prove anything against their nemesis are inclined to twist these principles around, to suit their own purpose, to spread black propaganda and outright lies.
(more…)

Continue ReadingThe Arroyo regime?s inquisition

In Banana Plantations, Soldiers Bust Unions, Harass Workers

An international fact-finding mission says the military is being used by plantations in Southern Mindanao to harass and intimidate workers from forming or joining unions.

Workers at FBAC's Packing Plant 98 (davaotoday.com photo by Barry Ohaylan)

DAVAO CITY (davaotoday.com) ? A fact-finding mission composed of delegates from several countries questioned on Friday the Philippine military?s participation in union-busting and intimidation of workers in plantations in Southern Mindanao.

The delegates, who completed on Friday a four-day fact-finding mission in a banana plantation in Compostela Valley province, said the military is being used by plantations to harass workers, particularly when the workers? union is engaged in campaigns to improve wages and work conditions.

?We?ve heard complaints by the workers about soldiers present during union negotiations,? said Holly Patterson, a delegate from Australia. At one point, she told reporters in a press conference on Friday, soldiers confiscated the original copy of the union?s collective bargaining agreement.

(more…)

Continue ReadingIn Banana Plantations, Soldiers Bust Unions, Harass Workers