Politics

Ibon to GMA: Damaging Economic Policies Also Cause ?Political Noise?

MANILA — Palace spokesman Ignacio Bunye on Wednesday called for the people to move on so that the government could push economic reforms, reiterating Malaca?ang?s claims that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had decisively won 2004 national elections. But it is precisely her economic ?reforms,? such as the reformed value-added tax (RVAT) law, that continue to contribute to political unrest, and not only allegations of corruption and election fraud, according to independent think-tank Ibon Foundation.

?Life has inarguably become more difficult for the people under Arroyo,? says Ibon research head Sonny Africa. Ibon?s estimated cost of living (national average) has grown almost 30% during the more than five years of the Arroyo administration. The real value of the peso has fallen by 23% during the same period.

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Leaders of Davao Left Included in Rebellion Charge Vs Virador

By Cheryll Fiel
davaotoday.com

DAVAO CITY ? Practically all of this city?s known leaders of progressive groups have been included in the rebellion charges filed against Bayan Muna party-list representative Joel Virador.

Ariel Casilao, Bayan secretary-general for Southern Mindanao, told reporters Tuesday that he and eight other leaders of progressive groups are listed in the case filed against Virador at the Department of Justice on Monday.

According to Casilao, they were cited in the charge sheet for “conspiring to commit rebellion” based, accordingly, on a complaint filed by two police operatives.
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With Great Power…

Commentary
By Carlos H. Conde
davaotoday.com

MANILA — I was sitting as a panelist at a forum called “Who’s Afraid of Media Freedom?” yesterday at the Ateneo law school in Rockwell when my cellphone went berserk with text messages warning of an impending police raid of the offices of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. I was stunned. Literally, I felt a chill crawling down my spine. Having no experience with media repression on the scale that my elder colleagues went through during the martial law years, I was actually afraid. Is this it? I asked myself silently. Are they really going to arrest Sheila Coronel et. al.? After them, who was going to be next? (Read Sheila’s account of what happened yesterday.)

I was going to speak after ABS-CBN’s Luchi Cruz-Valdez. While listening to her recount her experience covering the first Edsa, a thought crossed mind: Should I deliver my speech? What if the Arroyo regime would think it is subversive or that it might incite people to rebel?

Former vice president Tito Guingona was seated right next to me. A few minutes earlier, he exhorted the audience to “fight on!” Suddenly, I felt deeply ashamed. Here was this old civil libertarian, still at it, raising hell and battling water cannons — and there I was, actually anxious about the possible consequences of what I was going to say.

In end, I decided I was not going to give this regime the pleasure of intimidating me. So I raised a little hell myself.

Following is my short presentation. (You can listen to it here. Incidentally, Conrado de Quiros discussed the subject of my speech in his column today. You can also listen to the brilliant presentation by veteran journalist Vergel Santos of BusinessWorld and the Center for Media Freedom and Resonsibility.)

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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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