Politics

Zones of War and Peace Eyed in Troubled Paquibato

Councilor Dureza wants to look deeper into reports that non-Lumads are being driven out of Paquibato so Lumads can sell their CADCs to business interests

By Cheryll Fiel
davaotoday.com

DAVAO CITY (March 7, 2006) — A peace zone where civilians can go about their ways and a war zone where parties to the conflict in the area can wage their battle.

These are the things that Councilor Jimmy Dureza, chairman of the City Council’s Committee on Peace and Public Safety, wanted to put in place after he was ?deeply bothered? by the escalating trouble in Paquibato District, a flashpoint for the military and the communist New People?s Army.

Dureza told davaotoday.com that he was still finalizing details of the proposals, which he said was urgent considering that Paquibato residents have left their homes and evacuated, particularly in barangays Mapula, Lumiad and Pa?alom, because of the incessant conflict in the hinterland district.

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Reds Exonerate, Release Cafgu Member

Captive says he was forced to become Cafgu member; TFD?s del Rosario calls NPA move ?propaganda?

From left: Councilor Leo Avila, Ka Parago, Rodolfo Adang and Councilor Jimmy Dureza during the turnover Adang on Wednesday. (DAVAOTODAY.COM PHOTO)

By Cheryll D. Fiel
davaotoday.com

DAVAO CITY (March 10, 2006) — “We have no basis to punish him with death.?

These were the words of New People’s Army leader Ka Parago in explaining the release last Wednesday afternoon of Rodolfo Adang, a Lumad member of a paramilitary group who was captured by the Communists in January.

Adang was released to Councilor Jimmy Dureza, who heads the City Council?s Committee on Peace and Public Safety, and Councilor Leo Avila III, who said Parago himself had requested him to be with the group that received Adang from the rebels.

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Media in Peril

By Jun Duterte
Davao Communicators Guild
One of the most gripping human emotion is fear. Fear immobilizes, fear neutralizes, fear corrodes human goodwill and creativity, fear sends shivers to the heart, clouds our judgement and in the process derails the independence of our thoughts, our feelings, our emotions and even of our will.

It is against this social backdrop that we, media practitioners in Davao from all walks of life and backgrounds have collectively decided to come to the forefront today-in the form of a protest march and rally-irrespective of our professional differences because there is a greater national concern that stares us in the face right now: the threats brought about by Proclamation 1017.

While we hear of reports that presumably 1017 might be lifted anytime, this is not consolation enough for us because the threats to free expression and our right to think and speak as freemen do in a free society remain unresolved.

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Lawyers? Group Warns Arroyo Could Still Tinker with Constitution

Bayan calls lifting of Proclamation 1017 ?deceptive?

By Cheryll D. Fiel
davaotoday.com

DAVAO CITY ? A group of lawyers in Mindanao warned Sunday that the non-resolution of the petitions by several groups questioning the legality of Proclamation 1017 before the Supreme Court may ?embolden the administration to further tinker with the 1987 Constitution and the peoples? civil liberties.?

The Union of People?s Lawyers in Mindanao (UPLM), in a statement, implored the Supreme Court to resolve the issues. It pointed that the lifting Friday of Proclamation 1017 ?should not be made a ground to set aside the constitutional issues that hounded such a blatant betrayal of the true spirit of the EDSA People Power Constitution.?

Despite the lifting, it added, there is still a ?clear and present danger? to the civil liberties of the Filipino people. It said the non-resolution of these petitions was like the sword of Damocles. Hanging over the head of the public.
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NTC Circular Vs Broadcasters Denounced; Duterte Calls It ?Wrong, Very Stupid?

By Cheryll D. Fiel and Germelina A. Lacorte
davaotoday.com

DAVAO CITY ? ?Wrong.? ?Very stupid.? ?Very gray.?

These were the reactions by Davao officials to the reported National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) circular banning broadcasters from using anonymous sources in their newscasts and reports.

The circular, which the NTC disclosed on Saturday, was just the latest in the government?s alleged efforts to control the Philippine press, despite the lifting of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo?s Proclamation 1017 that many critics said specifically targeted the media.

The NTC reportedly issued a circular officially adopting the guidelines, supposedly drawn up by the industry group Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP), among them that a station ?may not broadcast news to which it cannot attribute a source.?

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