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Here’s why ’08 Philippines budget is anti-poor

COMMENTARY | By Ibon Foundation

Contrary to the Arroyo government's claims of a social payback in exchange for new tax measures, only 17 centavos out of every peso in revenues are allocated in next year's budget for health, education and housing services. In the budget, funding for government hospitals was slashed by 12 percent. By contrast, the Department of National Defense will get thrice as much as the health department.

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Karapatan Davao rebukes Arroyo’s ‘hypocritical’ speech at UN

DAVAO CITY ? Human rights group Karapatan- Southern Mindanao sharply rebuked President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo’s speech delivered at the 62nd Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York last Friday. The president, in her address said that Philippines is the most democratic country in Asia-Pacific Region and did not even tolerate human rights violations in the country.
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AFP ‘test missions’ during Ramadhan slammed

?It is difficult for our brothers and sisters in the war-torn areas of Basilan to observe one of the important pillars of Islam when the guns and bombs of the Philippine Army are aimed at them,? said Amirah Ali Lidasan of Suara Bangsamoro, adding that Moro civilians are vulnerable to the military operation conducted during Ramadhan for most of them are weak due to whole day of fasting.

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Arroyo has no moral authority to denounce Myanmar atrocities — Bayan

DAVAO CITY — BAYAN in Southern Mindanao denounces the massive human rights
violations and killings of political activists in Myanmar, which
already claimed thirteen (13) lives and hundreds incarcerated. The
economic and political crisis in Myanmar, which triggered series of
protests tackling variety of issues from oil price increases and human
rights violations, is similar to what the Filipinos are experiencing
under the Arroyo administration.

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