Detained Senator Leila de Lima denounced the arrest and temporary detention of Davao City-based journalist Margarita Valle, and called it a “shameless act” meant to “silence messenger of truth”.
Little maritime accident? Lawmaker says Duterte failed to protect PH interests
“We urge all Filipinos to assert our rights on Recto Bank, as it is being snatched from us by China, in the name of rich natural resources.”
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Bulatlat.com
MANILA – Anakpawis Partylist has expressed its disappointment as President Rodrigo Duterte broke his silence and dismissed the ramming of a fishing boat carrying 22 Filipinos as a “little maritime accident.”
“Duterte exposed himself as an epic failure of protecting Filipinos against foreigners, and worse echoed the line of the Chinese foreign ministry. The man claiming to be president, sitting in Malacanang is siding with China, instead of championing the case of the 22 Filipino fishermen,” Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao said in a statement.
On June 12, the Department of National Defense confirmed the news that a Chinese vessel had rammed a fishing boat carrying 22 Filipinos and left them to the elements on June 9. Vietnamese fisherfolk rescued them instead.
Duterte has been silent on the issue though he was later described by his spokesman as “very angry” until he broke his silence on Monday, saying that he will not go to war with China over a small incident between two boats.
Casilao said Duterte has failed to serve and protect the welfare and interests of Filipinos.
“We urge all Filipinos to assert our rights on Recto Bank, as it is being snatched from us by China, in the name of rich natural resources,” he added.
Automatic reparation for Filipino fisherfolk in West PH sea
In a separate statement, Anakpawis Partylist said Filipino fisherfolk must get automatic reparation and subsidies as they assert their fishing rights over the West Philippine Sea, adding that the rammed fishing boat in Recto Bank is estimated to be worth P2 million while their 3-metric ton was at half a million pesos.
“We support the call for reparation for the victims, and we demand that it be made automatic, as Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea, are actually doing the country the priceless sense of service and sacrifice,” Casilao said.
He added that “while China supports its fishing fleet, our country abandons them, such as the regime’s latest downplaying on the attempted mass killing of 22 Filipino fishermen.”
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Protesters burned 22 mock China flag
Protesters from different sectors, led by Defend Job Philippines burned 22 mock China flags during their indignation rally at Kilometer 0 marker in Rizal park, Manila on June 18, 2019 to condemn the ramming incident involving a Chinese ship and a Filipino fishing vessel, F/G GenVir-1 that abandoned 22 Filipino fisherman afloat in Reed Bank […]
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Nueva Vizcaya folk, environmental advocates urge gov’t to cancel Oceanagold mining license
The mining company is also under investigation by nine United Nation special rapporteurs as Kalikasan PNE and Samahang Pangkarapatan ng Katutubong Magsasaka at Manggagawa Inc. (Sapakkmmi) filed a complaint last December 27, 2018.
By JOHN MARK AARON MACARAEG
Bulatlat.com
MANILA — Indigenous communities, local government leaders, and environmental advocates from the province of Nueva Vizcaya held a back-to-back press conference and dialogue June 18 to demand the cancellation of Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) license of Australian- anadian large-scale mining corporation Oceanagold.
Oceanagold’s FTAA license is set to expire June 20 and the local government of Nueva Vizcaya, headed by Governor Carlos Padilla stood firm in their stand to prevent its renewal and called on President Rodrigo Duterte and Department of Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu to ban the mining company permanently. The provincial government already filed their petition yesterday.
In a statement, Leon Dulce, national coordinator of Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment, said that the indigenous community of baranggay Didipio, Kasibu, Nueva Ecija, has long been battling Oceanagold in operating in their area because of its environmental and human rights offenses.
The mining company is also under investigation by nine United Nation special rapporteurs as Kalikasan PNE and Samahang Pangkarapatan ng Katutubong Magsasaka at Manggagawa Inc. (Sapakkmmi) filed a complaint last December 27, 2018. The complaint consisted of charges such as rampant and civil and political rights violations, violation of rights and other environmental rights, and deprivation of livelihood and other economic and social rights.
“We are hoping that the UN Treaty bodies under the special rapporteurs will decide based on the complaint. We are hopeful they will rule in favor of us so that Oceanagold can finally answer their offenses and be held accountable, said the complaint’s legal counsel and former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares.
In 2014, an environmental investigation mission led by scientist group Agham found damages to forests, air pollution from dusty roads and stockpiles, and massive water pollution, all affecting the health and livelihood of affected residents.
Lorenzo Pulido of Didipio Earth-Savers Multi-purpose Association (Desama) narrated in detail how Oceanagold’s mining operation was destroying his community’s natural resources and how their daily life was affected.
“The people cry the lack of potable drinking water. Ever since they operated in the area, the groundwater disappeared. Even the rivers were also greatly damaged. We cannot bathe in there anymore because every time we do, our skin develops rashes,” Pulido said.
Mining policy reform
Dulce of Kalikasan PNE demands reforms on how mining operations are being managed by the government.
They are pushing for Nueva Vizcaya to be mining-free and the other near provinces that have been affected by Oceanagold.
He stressed the need for mining policies that will require the mining companies to make minimal impact on affected natural resources.
The contracts that the government give to the companies should not put the affected communities at a disadvantage but rather ensure that the promised environmental responsibilities would be met, Dulce said.
Moreover, Dulce claimed that proper utilization of mineral resources like sustainable mining can help the country achieve agricultural reform and national industrialization.
Present in the press conference were representatives Sapakkmmi, Desama, Alyansa ng Novo Vizcayano para sa Kalikasan (Anvik) Kalikasan PNE, Alyansa Tigil Muna, and Greenthumb Coalition, together with Nueva Vizcaya Governor Carlos Padilla, and Reverend Fr. Vicente Tiam of the Diocese of Bayambang and Kagawad Celia Bahag of Barangay Didipio.
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I spent Php100,000 on Grab in one year
One thing we can all agree on is that the country’s mass transportation is a nightmare. The MRT constantly breaks down. Buses are overcrowded. Taxis take longer routes for you to pay more. It’s a dismay. Thus, ride hailing apps such as Grab were marketed as an alternative to our dismal mass transportation system.
I was lucky enough that my grandmother supported my voluntary work at IBON by offering to provide me with a car instead of taking a jeepney to work. I decided that maintaining a car and fuel costs would be more expensive than just commuting. During my first weeks at IBON, I was taking four connecting jeepney rides just to get to work and another four to get back home. It was grueling. One exhausting day after work, I decided to just take Grab home regardless of the cost. This initial ride was followed by more rides.
Grab was convenient. I used the app when going to the office and coming back home every day. But this convenience came at a price. A huge price. My rides were anywhere between Php200-350. But when Grab’s absurd surge system hits Timog, it can go as high as Php650. Coupled with the rising cost of oil in October last year plus the fuel excise from TRAIN (Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law), it was the perfect storm to reach a whopping Php98,246 by booking Grab rides every day. My grandmother decided to just give me an allowance for my rising Grab expenses. But it ended up being more expensive than if she had bought me a car.
Let’s be clear, Grab
will never be a solution to our disgusting mass transportation system. While it
did provide me with an alternative to taking a bus, jeep or even the MRT, what
Grab essentially did was profit from disgruntled commuters at the cost of
adding more vehicles to our already crowded roads It further pushed the
corporatization and monopoly of a public service.
Let’s not forget that
mass transportation is a public service.
And it seems that the government, who should fix our transportation system, is not bent on fixing it. Government is saying that Build, Build, Build would provide more roads and trains or even a subway. But if you just build infrastructure without planning how these would come together with existing modes of transportation, then it doesn’t make sense. A sustainable mass transportation system should be efficient, reliable, accessible, safe, and environmentally sound.
If government won’t fix the mass transportation system then all the funding goes to big-ticket, big-business infrastructure to build roads. These are not for public vehicles but to accommodate even more private vehicles, which studies say already occupy 70% of Metro Manila traffic.
Government should craft a comprehensive national mass transportation plan in accordance with economic development plans. Or else, the pathetic cycle of building more infrastructure favoring private motorists over a huge pedestrian population will just continue. ###
Bird Feed features the thoughts and views of our staff on socioeconomic and other issues. All staff are encouraged to share their own analysis.
Mangyan and Lumad under attack – Sandugo
“The attacks against the national minorities also escalate as activists are killed in other parts of the country. Mangyan communities recently sent distress calls due to AFP operations. Makeshift houses of Lumad bakwit were demolished by the Misamis Oriental LGU,” Kerlan Fanagel, a Lumad council member of Sandugo-Movement of Moro and Indigenous Peoples for Self-Determination said today.
Last June 16, Karapatan-Southern Tagalog, in response to reports of bombings and burning of huts from the distress calls of Mangyan tribal leaders, led a humanitarian mission to assist Mangyan communities and investigate reports of human rights violations by state security forces in Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro and Monteclaro, San Jose Occidental Mindoro.
“Even the humanitarian mission experienced harassment and intimidation by police in checkpoints and in their place of refuge at the chapel of United Methodist chapel,” Fanagel said. “The mission was blocked to proceed to the affected Mangyan communities. We are extremely worried about the welfare of Mangyan communities who may be suffering due to intense military operations,” Fanagel said.
According to Karapatan-ST, they are also trying to retrieve and identify the remains of three possible victims of the AFP operations. Circumstance of their deaths are still unverified.
“Meanwhile, in Cagayan de Oro City, makeshift houses just set up by Lumad evacuees are being demolished as we speak,” Fanagel said. Some 30 Lumad families have camped inside the Vicente de Lara Park in front of the Misamis Oriental Provincial Capitol grounds since last year. “They left their homes in Barangay Banglay, Lagonglong to escape heavy military operations and the establishment of a military detachment near their area,” Fanagel continued.
“Lumad evacuees built these makeshift homes to protect themselves from the extreme heat and rain. Now that these are demolished, the children will be exposed to harsh environment, especially this rainy season,” Fanagel said.
“Where else will can our indigenous brothers and sisters go to in times of crisis? The local government turned their backs.Not only did they neglect the indigenous peoples but even demolished our efforts to survive. This is part of the Duterte government’s militarized policy on indigenous peoples’ issues –implementing martial law in Mindanao and even appointing the creator of paramilitaries in Mindanao, Col. Allen Capuyan as IP Commission Chief ,” Fanagel said.
“Who else can the indigenous peoples turn to when human rights workers are killed or denied to provide us assistance?” Fanagel asked. Recently, Karapatan workers in Sorsogon, Bicol, Ryan Hubilla and Nelly Bagasala, were gunned down. This was immediately followed by the killing of Neptali Moradaalso in Bicol. “It is people like them who are always ready to help the marginalized sectors like the national minorities. Killing them is equivalent to killing the voices of the poor,” Fanagel said.
“We demand the immediate pull out of AFP troops in Mangyan communities in Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro and Monteclaro, San Jose Occidental Mindoro. Let the humanitarian mission assist these communities. We also demand the local government of Misamis Oriental to provide the Lumad evacuees safe and humane refuge while AFP troops continue to sow terror in their ancestral lands and communities.
“We hold the Duterte government accountable for gross neglect of their welfare and rights, andthe violence against them. It is the Duterte government’s anti-IP policies that embolden the AFP and every government agency treat us like the enemies. We demand justice!” Fanagel ended. ###
Press Release: June 18,2019
Reference: Kerlan Fanagel, council member, SANDUGO
The Back-up singers
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Appellate court to decide on rights defenders’ plea sans presentation of witnesses
By RONALYN V. OLEA
MANILA — The Court of Appeals 14th Division held a one-day hearing on the petition for writ of amparo and writ of habeas data filed by Karapatan, Rural Missionaries of the Philippines and Gabriela this morning, June 18 and deemed the petition submitted for resolution.
The CA’s 14 Division headed by Justice Mario Lopez did not allow the petitioners to present testimonial evidence and other documents to prove their allegations. Instead, the court heard the arguments of both parties on procedural and substantive issues related to the petition.
Lopez maintained that the rules on petition for writ of amparo requires that hearings be summary.
Lawyers of the petitioners were surprised with the court’s decision, which they said was a deviation from previous cases of amparo petitions they handled.
Ephraim Cortez,secretary general of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), argued that there should be a uniformity in the procedures.
“That’s a very basic principles,” Cortez told Bulatlat immediately after the hearing.
The NUPL was prepared for a preliminary conference, just as what occured in their own petition of writ of amparo being heard by another division of the Court of Appeals.
Cortez also pointed out that they have not even received a copy of the respondents’ verified return, which was sent via snail mail.
Josa Deinla of the NUPL told the media that they have been preparing their witnesses to testify in court. One of them, Ryan Hubilla, was shot dead in Sorsogon this weekend.
The petitioners were “very disappointed” with how the court handled their case.
Cristina Palabay,secretary general of Karapatan, said, “We have not been given the chance to be heard.”
Joan Salvador, secretary general of Gabriela, found the court’s decision “disturbing.”
“How many more have to die before the court takes action?” Salvador said in Filipino.
Red tagging
Lawyers of the respondents from the Office of Solicitor General (OSG) argued that red tagging alone does not necessitate the issuance of writ of amparo.
Speaking to reporters, Lorraine Badoy of the Presidential Communications Office (PCCO) also claimed that red tagging is not a crime.
Cortez pointed out that red tagging results in death, threats and harassment of human rights defenders. He cited that former United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial and summary killings Philip Alston proved the direct link between red baiting and extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.
The NUPL said they will seek all legal remedies.
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