Arroyo urged: Admit there are ghost child prisoners in Philippines

MANILA — The Coalition to Stop Child Detention Through Restorative Justice
debunks claims by President Arroyo that children no longer suffer
imprisonment with adult crime suspects in filthy police jails in
violation of international human rights law (PGMA wants youth
offenders to continue studies, engage in livelihood, Office of the
President, released May 7, 2007). The President should officially
acknowledge the existence of these ghost children prisoners who lurk
in the shadows of police dungeons especially in Metro Manila and major
urban centers, without official acknowledgment, transparency and
accountability.

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Philippines: Kin of Jonas Burgos Still Face Blank Wall 9 Days After Abduction

MANILA — Nine days since Jonas Joseph ?Jay-jay? Burgos, son of press freedom icon Jose ?Joe? Burgos disappeared; his family remains clueless of his whereabouts. His family and friends put up posters today at major points in the city in an effort to gather help from ordinary citizens and authorities as well.

The group put up posters at the vicinity of Ever Gotesco Commonwealth, Philcoa, Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame with basic details about Jonas and where citizens of good heart could give helpful details

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Husband of Suara Leader in Maguindanao Killed

Killing followed harassment of Suara Bangsamoro’s volunteers in Davao del Sur.

DAVAO CITY — The husband of a leader of the Moro partylist group, Suara Bangsamoro, was shot dead this morning by three unidentified men in Pikit town, North Cotabato, the Philippines.

Usman Ali, 40, was shot in the back of his head while at a public market in Pikit, said Suara partylist nominee Amira Lidasan .

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Hongkong Journalist Wins Natali Prize for Human Rights Reporting

On International Press Freedom Day, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel awarded the ?grand prix? of the 2006 Natali Prize competition to the Hong Kong based journalist Leu Siew Ying, for her report ?From Village Protest to National Flashpoint?. The award-winning article tells the story of villagers in Guangzhou/Southern China who try to recall their elected headman for suspected corruption. Fourteen other journalists also received Natali Prizes for their commitment to Human Rights and Democracy.
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