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SOMAtotal, State of the Migrants Address in Europe (July 26, 2020)

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SOMAtotal, State of the Migrants Address in Europe (July 26, 2020)

This online forum protest with coordinated outdoor demonstrations from various Filipino mass organizations in Europe, as also participated by the relevant voices of migrant Filipinos and foreign allies sharing the common call: OUST Duterte, amplifies the cry of the Filipino people. We may not be physical present in the Philippines, but we connect our lives from where we are now, to the lives of our people, of our families and especially of the suffering Filipinos – in the Philippines.

In the history of the Filipino revolutionary struggles; the migrant Filipinos, dedicated their lives for our nation’s sake, we have important roles to play: in the awakening, in the strategic campaigns and in international solidarity support.

As of late, our calls and campaigns to OUST Duterte must be amplified, especially of the emerging issues brought about by the COVID Pandemic.

Our SOMAtotal common synthesis (contributed by Migrante-Europe, Grabiela-Europe, Anakbayan-Europe, Promotion of Church People’s Response, Europe Network for Justice and Peace in the Philippines, and April 28 Coalition):

  1. The Philippine government thru its embassies in Europe should lobby for immediate assistance of undocumented migrant Filipinos for regularization and full citizenship rights, they are among those greatly impacted by the COVID pandemic in their host countries.
  2. The Philippine government should assist in providing necessary assistance to migrant Filipinos in the Middle East, the struggles of our brothers and sisters there are so depressing, where our government should not be content of sending back home shattered lives of OFWs and worst in coffins, almost 400 Filipinos have died in the Middle East due to COVID. Accountability of host countries and companies must be pursued in the behalf of families and relatives who have died and are in hospitals.
  3. Migrant groups must demand accountability to our Philippine government with regard to the billion/s of loans and assistance from foreign entities and donors respectively, in aid to address the COVID-19 pandemic; and yet has failed to address the medical and economic needs of the Filipinos.
  4. We as migrants must speak boldly in the failed approaches of the Duterte government to address the COVID crisis; clearly manifested by haphazard solutions in the midst of national confusion, instead: signed the Terror Law; continued the war-on-drugs and war-on-drugs—with recorded 300 plus killings during the lockdown; curtailed press freedom by closing ABS-CBN and targeted journalists and publications; and militarized cities and the countryside.
  5. Collectively, we speak as one migrant’s community: End the Tyranny in the Philippines! Pursue a just and lasting peace, build a people’s authentic economic recovery, fix the dis-ordered education system, end the violent war-on-drugs and war-on-rights and provide realistic medical responses.

Bring our message of disbelief during (and after) Duterte’s SONA,
his failures sealed our commitment to oust him in power.

SONAgkaisa tayong mga migrante sa Europa!
SONAghimagsikan (at maghimagsikan) tayong mga migrante!

In the name of Migrant voices,

Br. Tagoy Jakosalem, OAR
Promotion of Church People’s Response – Europe

The post SOMAtotal, State of the Migrants Address in Europe (July 26, 2020) appeared first on Migrante Europe.

141 arrested during nationwide #SONA2020 protests

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141 arrested during nationwide #SONA2020 protests
62 members of youth, fisherfolk, and peasant organizations in Cavite released after being detained for over three hours. (Photo courtesy of Bayan Cavite)

By JUSTIN UMALI
Bulatlat.com

SANTA ROSA, Laguna – Almost 150 protesters from various organizations and sectors nationwide were accosted by elements of the Philippine National Police on their way, during, or after protest actions coinciding with President Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address, July 27.

In Metro Manila, 34 individuals were arrested while on their way to join the SONAgkaisa protest in the University of the Philippines Diliman. The police cited quarantine violations as the main reason.

Five members of transport group Piston were arrested at the Quezon City Memorial Circle after they raised their placards. Five more individuals were arrested in Caloocan while inside a jeepney. In both cases, authorities stated that they violated rules concerning the use of traditional jeepneys. The Piston members were released after five hours.

Twenty-four individuals were also arrested in Marikina City, also on their way to UP Diliman, ostensibly for violating physical distancing protocols.

Police also seized placards and streamers from two protesters in Quiapo Church during Mass. The materials were inside the churchgoers’ bags and were not in display.

Outside Metro Manila, police accosted a total of 107 individuals from Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna, and Tuguegarao City either before or during decentralized SONA protests.

A total of 85 activists from youth, peasant, LGBT, and fisherfolk organizations in Southern Tagalog were harassed and accosted by the police on their way to the #KilosKatagalugan protest in the University of the Philippines Los Baños.

Sixty-two members of Bayan Cavite, Katipunan ng mga Samahan ng Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan, and Anakbayan Cavite were held at a checkpoint in Brgy. Maduya, Carmona, Cavite on their way to UPLB and were detained for over three hours after they were told that they needed a travel pass.

“It was obvious that the activists were held up by the police to prevent them from joining the SONA ng Bayan,” said Anakbayan Cavite in a statement. “And yet, the police still failed in their attempts since the SONA ng Bayan was a success.”

Members of progressive organizations in Cavite detained on their way to SONA protests in Los Baños, Laguna. (Photo courtesy of AB Kalayaan)

Twenty-three other activists were held in two separate incidents at a checkpoint near Camp Macario Sakay, Los Baños, Laguna.

A jeep with seven individuals from Anakbayan Laguna and Kabataan Partylist Laguna was first lagged down at the checkpoint after police learned that the group was going to the SONA protest in UPLB. Officers then asked for identification and travel passes before commandeering the jeep and forcing the driver to bring it to the Los Baños Municipal Police Station.

The seven were held at the station for an hour before they were escorted back outside of Los Baños.

According to Red Clado, spokesperson for Anakbayan Laguna, “It was clear that the only reason they harassed the passengers was because they were trying to prevent from them attending the SONA ng Bayan and exercising their rights.”

“The other vehicles forming the caravan were let go without any issue, so why only the one who said they were going to the SONA?” he asked.

Sixteen activists from Queer Quezon, Anakbayan Quezon, Pagkakaisa ng mga Magsasaka sa Ikalawang Distrito ng Quezon, and independent media outlet Quezon Reels were also held at the same checkpoint. They were held for over an hour near the checkpoint and were asked to choose to either be “detained or go home.”

“This was a clear violation of our rights as citizens who wish to manifest our dissent against a government that abuses its people,” said Neal Roxas, spokesperson for Queer Quezon in a video statement released after the incident.

Two cases of arrests occurred in Bulacan: in Pandi, five members of urban poor rights group Kadamay were arrested for conducting an online SONA protest, while 13 were arrested inSan Jose del Monte on their way to the UP Diliman protest.

The previous day, police arrested Kadamay Pandi leader Rose Fortaleza during a raid at the Kadamay offices. Issues of alternative publication Pinoy Weekly were also confiscated after police deemed them ‘subversive.’

According to Kadamay, the five arrested in Pandi have no formal charges against them, apart from an assertion from the police that no protests beyond 12 noon were permitted. Kadamay also labeled the bail needed to release Fortaleza as “extortion” meant to “bully organizations and communities into ceasing from airing their grievances.”

In Tuguegarao City, police swarmed a protest by members of youth organizations, arresting two for alleged quarantine violations. Their two paralegal counsels were also charged with violations, and were coerced into signing an arrest form and booking sheet as condition for their release.
The four were released after five hours of detention.

In Cebu, an online cultural performance organized by Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas was interrupted by police officers while being streamed live through Facebook. No arrests or detentions were made.

No actual ‘violations’

In almost all cases, police cited violations of existing quarantine protocol as the main reason they were arrested. Laguna and Metro Manila are currently under general community quarantine, while Tuguegarao is under modified GCQ.

However, the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers stated that there is “no legal basis” in warrantless arrest for quarantine violators. NUPL also stated that individuals cannot be arrested for not having a quarantine pass, not wearing facemasks, not following social distancing protocols, or not following curfew guidelines.

The lawyers’ group also challenged the Department of Interior and Local Government’s assertion that mass gatherings were “prohibited,” stressing that the people have “the right to peaceably assemble and petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

As of press time, there is still no word on the 29 individuals arrested in Marikina and Caloocan. The 18 arrested in Bulacan are also still detained and waiting for charges to be filed.

The post 141 arrested during nationwide #SONA2020 protests appeared first on Bulatlat.

#SONA2020 | Netizens dismayed at Duterte’s lack of concrete plan on COVID-19 crisis

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#SONA2020 | Netizens dismayed at Duterte’s lack of concrete plan on COVID-19 crisis

Many netizens said that they only wasted almost two hours of their time listening to Duterte’s speech which they described as nothing but an attack on his critics and defense of China.

By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – Netizens aired their dismay at President Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address as it did not focus on the most important issue in the nation today – concrete plans for COVID-19 crisis.

Many netizens said that they only wasted almost two hours of their time listening to Duterte’s speech which they described as nothing but an attack on his critics and defense of China.

Even actress Jennylyn Mercado asked: “So, ano na pong plano?” (What’s the plan?)

blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”>

What we want to hear:
• Mass testing
• Concrete plans
• Academic freeze

What we heard:
• Lethal injections on drug addicts.
• Personal problems with the lopezes.
• “Inutil ako diyan, walang magawa”#SONA2020#SONAgkaisa2020

— Tristan Louis Sicat (@TristanPSicat) July 27, 2020

On asserting sovereignty in West Philippine Sea

Duterte said in his SONA that China is already “in possession” of the West Philippine Sea. He said that he cannot afford to go to war against China. He said that he “cannot do anything about it,” adding that he “is useless” when it comes to asserting Philippine’s right over WPS.

Former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay asserted that the Philippines won against China in the Permanent Court of Arbitration of the United Nations Convention of the Laws of the Seas (UNCLOS) in 2016.

One netizen pointed out that there is only accurate thing that Duterte said during his SONA.

(https://www.bulatlat.com)

The post #SONA2020 | Netizens dismayed at Duterte’s lack of concrete plan on COVID-19 crisis appeared first on Bulatlat.

‘May nangyari’ sa Villa Lois

Pinoy Weekly
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Hindi matandaan ng mga kasamahan niya kung ano’ng eksaktong oras, pero mga alas-otso o alas-nuwebe raw ng gabi ng Hulyo 25 iyon. Tumawag si Malou, residente ng Villa Lois housing project sa Pandi, Bulacan at isa sa mga lokal na lider ng Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) doon, sa mga kapwa niya lider.

“Pumunta si sir Espiritu. May dalang listing,” sabi umano ni Malou sa kanyang mga kasamahan sa Kadamay-Pandi. Tatlong pangalan daw ang nandoon: Eduardo, Arlene at Rosalita/Rose (itinago na namin ang apelyido nila). Gusto raw kausapin ng mga pulis.

Si Espiritu (hindi nila nakuha ang unang pangalan) ay isa raw sa mga pulis ng Pandi Police Station. Pinuntahan niya ang bahay ni Malou, kasama ang dalawa pang pulis. Ayon kay Malou, hiniling daw sa kanya ni Espiritu na magpatawag daw ng miting — noong gabi mismong iyon — para makausap ng pulis ang mga kapwa-lider ng Kadamay. (Hindi independiyenteng makuha ng Pinoy Weekly ang buong ngalan o pagkatao ni Espiritu.)

Ang kuwento ni Malou, sinagot niya si sir Espiritu. “Kayo na lang, sir. Tutal, may address naman kayo (nila),” aniya. “Di po ako nagpapamiting ng gabi.”

Isa sa mga nabahala si Rosalita “Rose” Fortaleza. Maralitang dating walang bahay na sumama sa pag-okupa ng Kadamay sa tiwangwang na mga pabahay sa Pandi, isa sa mga lider ngayon ng grupo si Rose. Mataas ang presyon niya. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang pakay sa kanya ng mga pulis.

Bago mag-alas-diyes, kuwento ng kanyang anak na si Roc-roc (22, palayaw lang), dumating ang mga pulis sa kanilang bahay. “Tao po,” sabi raw ng mga ito.

Naggugupit daw ng mga lumang print issues ng Pinoy Weekly si Rose. Kadalasang para sa maralita, kapag luma na ang diyaryo o magasin, kalakal na ito. Proyektong livelihood daw nila Rose ang gumawa ng mga handicraft tulad ng basket gawa sa papel. Dahil may natirang lumang mga isyu ng magasin, naisip ni Rose na gawin na lang itong handicraft.

Larawan mula sa Kadamay-Pandi

* * *

“Hindi na namin alam ano nangyari pagdating ng pulis kina Rose,” kuwento sa Pinoy Weekly ni Lea Maralit, isa rin sa mga lider ng Kadamay doon. Madaling araw, mga alas-singko raw ng umaga, nabalitaan na lang niya sa text na kinuha raw ng pulis si Rose.

“May isang jeep na dumating noong gabi. Sakay, mga manggagawa. Galing Navotas, o Novaliches, di ko matandaan. Papauwi sa Villa Lois. Hinarang ng pulis, at gustong pabalikin sa pinanggalingan,” ani Lea. Naggiit ang mga manggagawa, pati ang mga asawa nila, na residente sila ng lugar. Pinayagan din daw ng mga pulis na bumaba sa jeep. Pero pinabalik ang jeep sa pinanggalingan.

“Iyung ilan sa mga nasa jeep, nagkuwento sa amin. Nakita nila si Rose sa health center ng barangay. Kasama ang pulis. Tumaas kasi ang presyon,” aniya pa. Pagkatapos noon, ang palagay na lang nila, dinala na sa estasyon ng pulis sa Pandi si Rose, pati ang anak na si Roc-roc.

Agad na kinontak ni Lea ang mga kapwa lider ng Kadamay sa Pandi. Magtipon daw sila sa opisina sa Villa Lois. “Balak sana naming sundan kung nasaan si Rose,” kuwento niya. Pero noong umaga ring iyon, may nakapagsabi na sa kanya na may dumating na mga pulis sa kanilang opisina.

“Model house” ng housing project na Villa Lois ang ginawang opisina ng Kadamay noong nag-okupa sila rito, taong 2017. Sa harap noon, dumating ang mga pulis. “Sa tanda ko, tatlong sasakyan ng pulis ang dumating,” sabi ni Selene, miyembro ng Kadamay at paralegal volunteer sa lugar. “Mga walong pulis sila.”

Pinangungunahan ang mga pulis ni PCpt. Jun Alejandrino, hepe ng Pandi Police Station. Sinalubong na siya ng mga lider ng Kadamay doon: sina Malou, Lea, Beth at Selene.

“Sabi nila, gusto raw nilang kunin ang mga polyeto,” ani Lea. Pinatutungkulan ang mga kopya ng Pinoy Weekly, na nasa opisina ng Kadamay-Pandi. HIndi na maalala ni Lea kung ilang bundles ang nasa opisina nila. Pero batay sa mga larawan na kinuha nila, di-bababa sa siyam na bundles ng Pinoy Weekly ang nandoon. Limandaang kopya ang isang bundle nito.

Siyempre, kuwento pa ni Lea, tumanggi silang ibigay ito. “Hindi po namin ibibigay iyan. Pag-aari po iyan ng Pinoy Weekly,” sabi niya. (Bilang bulk subscribers ng Pinoy Weekly, pag-aari na talaga ng komunidad ang ibinigay na mga kopyang ito ng magasin.) “Di namin iyan isu-surrender.”

* * *

Habang kausap ng apat si Alejandrino, dumarami na umano ang lumalapit na tao. May mga sumasabat na sa usapan: “Gagawin naming pang-livelihood iyan,” sabi raw ng isa, tinutukoy ang ginagawa nga ni Rose na paggawa ng papel na basket mula sa ginupit-gupit na lumang magasin.

“Nangbe-brainwash iyan,” sabi umano ni Alejandrino (kuwento ni Lea), sabay-turo sa magasin. “Isurrender n’yo na at baka may mangyari.”

Pero naggiit sina Lea. Hindi talaga raw nila maaaring ibigay ang mga magasin. Kung anu-anong dahilan na ang binigay nila: pangkabuhayan ito, hindi kanila ito, kailangan pa raw nila ikonsulta sa Kadamay-National ang pag-surrender sa mga magasin. “Hindi po kami (silang apat) makakapagdesisyon kasi organisasyon kami,” sabi raw ni Lea sa hepe.

Pero ramdam niya, umiinit na ang ulo ni Alejandrino. “Tinatago n’yo yang mga polyeto,” sabi raw ng hepe. “Maayos naman akong nakikipag-usap. Papalitan namin (ng ibang babasahin), huwag lang iyan (Pinoy Weekly).”

Sabi pa ni Lea, tila nag-iiba na ang tono ng pananalita ni hepe. Nauubusan na ng pasensiya. “Sige, bahala kayo kapag hindi ninyo iyan sinurrender,” sabi umano ni Alejandrino. Tinalikuran na raw sila ng hepe.

Natigilan daw siya rito. Nagtinginan silang mga lider. Nandoon na rin si Roc-roc. “Mukha ng takot na si Roc-roc,” ani Lea. Naisip na niya: kawawa ang bata, nag-aalala sa nanay niya. Naisip na niya na kung nagawa nga ang pag-aresto kay Rose nang walang kaso at walang mandamyento de aresto, baka gawin din sa kanila ito kapag nagmatigas sila.

“Kung gusto po ninyong kunin, kunin ninyo. Pero hindi namin iyan isusurrender,” sabi umano ni Lea kay Alejandrino. “Kayo po bahala na kumuha.” Saka kinuha na ng mga tauhan ni Alejandrino ang mga magasin. Nakabalot pa ang marami rito, hindi pa nabubuksan. Iba-ibang isyu: mga nagdaang isyu ang karamihan.

Nagsulat umano si Alejandrino sa yellow pad. Ang sabi rito, boluntaryo raw nilang isinusuko ang mga magasin, o, ayon dito’y “large number of subversive documents” sa Pandi Municipal Police Station, alas-12:06 ng hapon sa “model house” ng Villa Lois. Pirmado nina Lea, at ni Alejandrino, siyempre.

"Walang

Walang suot na face mask ang isa sa mga pulis na kumuha ng mga kopya ng Pinoy Weekly. Larawan mula sa Kadamay-Pandi

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Sa isang pahayag, sinabi ni Central Luzon regional police director Brig. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia na boluntaryo nga raw na isinuko nina Lea, kasama ang iba pang miyembro ng Kadamay, ang libu-libong kopya ng magasin.

“PBGen. Sermonia also said Maralit revealed to authorities about her fear that the subversive documents might be used during the SONA (State of the Nation Address) of President Rodrigo R Duterte,” ayon sa pahayag ng PRO-3 Public Information Office.

Sa mga interbyu ng midya kay Alejandrino, sinabi umano niyang may hinuli silang mag-inang lumalabag daw sa health protocols (sina Rose ito at Roc-roc). May hawak na mga kopya ng magasin ang dalawa. Itinuro ng mga ito ang opisina ng Kadamay, at saka dun nakausap sina Lea. Sina Lea naman daw, boluntaryong isinuko ang mga magasin dahil natatakot na magamit ang mga ito sa mga protesta sa SONA.

Pero sa mga larawan at bidyong nakuhanan ng mga residente at miyembro ng Kadamay, makikitang nakipagtalo nga sina Lea sa mga pulis. Makikitang ang isa sa mga pulis, hindi maayos na nakasuot ng face mask — ang mismong paglabag ng health protocols na inaakusa ng mga pulis kina Rose.

Itinatanggi nina Lea na “sinurrender” nila ang mga magasin. “May banta na talaga sa amin,” sabi niya, sa panayam ng Pinoy Weekly. Ganoon din ang kuwento ng iba pang saksi. Hinuli ng mga pulis si Rose noong gabi. Hindi malayong damputin at ikulong din sila. “Nasa isip ko, kung hindi namin isusurrender ang mga Pinoy Weekly, baka kami ang ipalabas na surrenderee?” ani Lea. Marami na kasing residente ng mga okupadong pabahay ang puwersahang “pinasusuko” ng PNP at mga militar: Pinalalabas na “surrenderee” ng rebeldeng New People’s Army.

May hayagang banta na rin: Kung hindi nila isusuko ang mga magasin, “may mangyayari”.

Samantala, matapos pumutok sa social media at sa balita ng iba’t ibang media outfits ang balita ng insidente, nagkomento na rin ang mismong hepe ng Philippine National Police, si Hen. Archie Gamboa. Aniya, kung may mga paglabag nga ang mga pulis, pormal sanang ireklamo ito ng Pinoy Weekly at/o mga miyembro ng Kadamay.

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Ibinalita ng iba’t ibang midya ang insidente, at sinipi ang opisyal na pahayag ng Pinoy Weekly na “labag sa karapatan sa pamamahayag” ang nagawang “raid” sa opisina ng Kadamay sa Villa Lois. Pati si Justice Sec. Menardo Guevarra, tinanong ng midya, kung legal pa ang pagkuha ng mga pulis ng mga magasin.

“Kung ang mga nilalaman (ng magasin) ay naghihikayat sa mga mamamayan na mag-armas laban sa nararapat-sa-konstitusyon (duly constituted) na mga awtoridad, maaaring kunin ng mga pulis ang mga materyales bilang bahagi ng pag-uusig para sa krimen na inciting to sedition. Pero kung hindi naman, kung nagpapahayag lang ito ng posisyon hinggil sa mga isyung pampubliko, tulad ng tinding laban sa ATA (Anti-Terrorism Act), nakasulat man sa plakard o mga istrimer, maituturing itong naayon-sa-batas na pag-eehersisyo ng kalayaan sa pamamahayag o pagpapahayag na pinoprotektahan ng Saligang Batas,” sabi ni Guevarra (isinalin ng Pinoy Weekly mula sa wikang Ingles).

Para sa Pinoy Weekly, walang artikulo o nilalaman sa naturang magasin na maituturing na paghihikayat sa mga mamamayan na armadong mag-aklas. Nilalaman ng mga pahina nito’y iba’t ibang impormasyon, analisis, opinyon o istorya na nakaayon sa mga istandard ng pamamahayag.

"Isa

* * *

Samantala, plano pa rin sana nina Lea na lumahok sa protesta sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas-Diliman sa Quezon City, kaalinsabay sa SONA ni Pangulong Duterte noong umaga ng Hulyo 27. Pero noong umagang iyon, naging abala na siya sa maraming bagay. “KInausap ako ng 7th Infantry Battalion (ng Philippine Army),” ani Lea. Mga alas-otso pasado raw iyun. “Inaalam daw nila yung mga pangyayari.”

Pati raw ang isang kinatawan ng Department of Social Welfare and Development, kumausap din sa kanya. Pero dahil balisa na sila mula sa nakaraang insidente, nagdagdag lang ito sa pag-aalalang iniisip na nila.

Noong araw ding iyon, tumawag raw kay Lea si Alejandrino. “Samahan ko raw sila sa Region 3 (Police Regional Office 3, sa Pampanga),” kuwento niya. “HIndi po ako sasama,” sabi niya sa hepe. Kung hindi nga siya makakapunta sa protesta sa SONA, lalo pang hindi siya makakasama sa mga pulis. Noong araw na iyon, nagsagawa ng press conference ang PRO-3 kaugnay ng insidente. Ang hula na lang ni Lea, pagsasalitain siya dun ng mga pulis. Pinanindigan niyang hindi siya makakasama.

“Sa totoo lang, hindi talaga maganda ang nangyayari dito sa lugar namin. Hindi maiiwasang matakot. Pero magpapatuloy pa rin kami,” pagtatapos ni Lea.

Ipinakiusap ng ilan sa mga nakapanayam na mga residente at lider ng Kadamay sa Pandi at Villa Lois na huwag nang ilathala ang kanilang buong ngalan para sa kanilang seguridad.

228 new COVID-19 cases in a day, 106 more active cases among health workers as of July 25

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In the Department of Health (DOH) Situationer Report posted on July 26 with data as of July 25, there were 228 new COVID-19 cases among health workers recorded in a day, while 106 more active cases were also reported. This brings the total of COVID-19 cases to 4,443, while active cases are at 951 (21.4%). […]

The post 228 new COVID-19 cases in a day, 106 more active cases among health workers as of July 25 appeared first on Manila Today.

Could’ve been an e-mail

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Could’ve been an e-mail

By DEE AYROSO
(https://www.bulatlat.com)

The post Could’ve been an e-mail appeared first on Bulatlat.

Anong plano? Netizens react to president’s 5th SONA

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President Rodrigo Duterte gave his 5th and second-to-the-last State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) today at the Batasang Pambansa. The president arrived at around 4pm and his speech started promptly after arriving. The speech lasted around an hour and 40 minutes, longer than last year despite Duterte sticking to his script for the most part. Netizens–including celebrities and […]

The post Anong plano? Netizens react to president’s 5th SONA appeared first on Manila Today.

‘Duterte’s SONA was a distraction from COVID-19 mismanagement’

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‘Duterte’s SONA was a distraction from COVID-19 mismanagement’
SONA protesters call for mass testing (Photo by Carlo Manalansan / Bulatlat)

By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – Progressives said that the fifth State of the Nation address of President Rodrigo Duterte was meant to distract the public from the government’s mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The whole SONA was meant to distract us from the mismanagement of the coronavirus health crisis,” Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr. said in a Facebook post.

In his one hour and 40 minute-address, Duterte hardly mentioned the Philippine government’s plan to  curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus. He instead focused on the search for the vaccine, which community doctor Edelina dela Paz said is not around the corner, contrary to Duterte’s repeated claim during his address.

The Philippines has already surpassed the 80,000-mark of total COVID-19 cases, with the highest number of active cases in Southeast Asia.

Read: Duterte’s COVID-19 response, no sense of urgency

“How can you be a president when you do not have an objective way of looking at the reality? It is always in relation to himself, what he likes and does not like,” Sr. Mary John Mananzan of the Movement Against Tyranny said in its online webinar today.

Oligarchs

President Duterte opened and closed his public address issuing tirades against Sen. Franklin Drilon, who recently said that dismantling oligarchy entails overhauling existing laws that allow oligarchy to persist.

In his radio interview, Drilon denied defending the Lopez family, and that he was instead fighting for press freedom.

In reaction to Duterte’s attacks on Drilon, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said, “This is still crony capitalism,” pointing out that Duterte favors other sections of the ruling class.

In his speech last week, Duterte said he wants “helpful friends” to get rich.

“If he is really against the oligarchs, why is he friends with the Marcoses? Aren’t they oligarchs?” Sr. Mananzan said.

No mention of terror law?

While there appears to be no mention of the controversial terror law, lawyer Kristina Conti of the Concerned Lawyers for Civil Liberties said the closest was his calling out of the military to implement peace and order.

Duterte, she added, appeared to be “flexing” that he is control of the bureaucracy to get what he wants.

Human rights group Karapatan said the deployment of military as part of the so-called development programs in the village leves as part of the “whole of nation” counterinsurgency approach “will only result in the further militarization of civilian bureacracy down to the barangay level—a tactic not very far from your campaign of mass murder under the drug war—and give way to more military and police abuses in line with their implementation.”

“We are not fools, especially now that the Anti-Terrorism Act is in place,” Karapatan said.

Committed to human rights?

Karapatan also frowned at Duterte’s assurance that he will not dodge on the government’s obligation to fight for human rights. If the administration does not wish to evade its rights obligations, the group asked why Duterte opted out of the Rome Statute and maligned the United Nations experts’ intent to visit the country and talk directly with victims.

“You spit on, trample upon, and deride the recognition of even the most basic of rights: the right to live, with dignity. It is ironic that as you declare that you will not dodge the government’s human rights obligations, you announced your intent to push for the reimposition of the death penalty through lethal injection in drug-related offenses—a move which is strongly discouraged by United Nations human rights bodies” the human rights group said in a statement.

President Duterte also claimed that no abuses were documented during the martial law imposition in Mindanao, following the Marawi siege. However, Karapatan documented at least 800,000 human rights violations which include  93 extrajudicial killings, 423,538 victims of forcible evacuations, and 348,081 victims for aerial bombings.

Read: 800,000 rights abuses recorded in 2 years of Martial Law in Mindanao — rights group

West Philippine sea row

In his address, Duterte said that the Philippines cannot afford to go to war against China in relation to the West Philippine Sea row.

Pamalakaya Chairman Fernando Hicap said fisherfolk are dismayed but not surprised, adding that “asserting what is rightfully ours does not mean declaring war with the aggressor.”

In an earlier Bulatlat report, critics noticed how the president suddenly became anti-war and an advocate of non-violence when it comes to confronting the conflict with China on our territorial waters.

Read: Duterte’s double treason

“Nobody wants to have a war with any country. What we demand is justice and for the rights of Filipino fishers to be respected in our own territorial waters. We can have all that sans armed confrontation, only political will from the government and devotion to advance the interest and welfare of the sovereignty and people,” Hicap said in a statement. (https://www.bulatlat.com)

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