Extrajudicial Killings

Congress HR committee looks into extra judicial killings in Mindanao

By MARILOU AGUIRRE-TUBURAN | Davao Today


A witness takes oath to tell the truth during the public hearing conducted by the House Committee on Human Rights in August. Victims and witnesses from the Mindanao regions presented their accounts on the human rights abuses allegedly committed by the government troops. Rep. Lorenzo Tanada III, chairperson and Rep. Satur Ocampo, House Deputy Minority Leader, were present at the hearing. (davaotoday.com photo by Barry Ohaylan)

The best deterrent to crime is when the wheels of justice, no matter how slow, really move and convict people who are guilty. This is the statement made by Lorenzo ?Erin? Ta?ada IIII, chair of the House of Representatives' committee on human rights, after a two-day hearing for the Mindanao regions of the ongoing Congressional inquiry on extrajudicial killings.

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RMN General Santos City broadcaster dies


Dennis Cuesta

Dennis Cuesta used to anchor the hard hitting primetime radio program "Straight to the Point" over DXMD - General Santos. Apart from tackling corruption on air, he also heard out complaints from residents. Among the latest issues he tackled were complaints of maltreatment against a car company, where he was asked to testify for the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). Cuesta fought for his life at the intensive care unit of the St. Elizabeth Hospital in General Santos City for almost five days after he was shot at around 4:30 p.m. near the Gaisano mall of General Santos city on Monday.

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Remembering Celso Pojas


Slain peasant leader Celso Pojas is revered by poor folk.

By GRACE S. UDDIN | Davao Today

On that early morning of May 15 this year, Celso Pojas, 45, was sipping a cup of coffee inside the Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas (KMP) office in Bugac, Maa when he got up, told a colleague he had to buy few cigarette sticks and went outside. Nobody had an inkling it was to be their last time to talk to him. As the secretary- general of Farmers's Association of Davao City (FADC), Pojas was preparing to go to Compostela town as part of the support groups to attend to hundreds of Lumads, who were fleeing their homes in Monkayo and Compostela because of military operations there.

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