It has been more than a month since the gruesome massacre that claimed the lives of nine farm workers, eight of whom were members of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW). The perpetrators, suspected members of a paramilitary group, strafed them with bullets as they were resting in their respective tents in a vacant lot in Hacienda Barbara, Sagay, Negros Occidental on the evening of October 20, 2018. These farmers and farm workers, along with other members of the NFSW, were conducting their bungkalan or land cultivation and occupation campaign necessitated by the current state of landlessness and the monopoly of hacienderos in the region.
Raps filed vs Sagay massacre survivor’s father, police
The mother of the 14-year old survivor of Sagay Massacre last October filed charges against her ex-husband and police officers of Sagay Philippine National Police before the National Prosecution Services of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Manila, December 4. In her complaint affidavit, Flor, mother of survivor “Lester” filed psychological violence charges in violation […]
Karapatan stages political satire against repression, tyranny and impunity
On December 5, 2018, Karapatan staged a short skit involving President Duterte, House Speaker Gloria Arroyo, Ilocos Norte Governor and convicted criminal Imelda Marcos, and the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in Mendiola. The political satire revolved around the characters’ conversations on repressive measures and advising Imelda Marcos on how she can escape accountability.
Arrest soldiers who perpetrated Lake Sebu massacre, end martial law in Mindanao – Karapatan
Karapatan, today, welcomed the resolution of the Commission on Human Rights in Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos) holding two military officers liable and accountable for the killing of seven Lumad leaders of the T’boli Manobo S’daf Claimants Organization led by Datu Victor Danyan Sr. Sitio Datal Bong Langon, Brgy. Ned, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato on December 3, 2017.
Karapatan slams red-tagging of Satur, Castro and human rights defenders
“The recent tirades and red-tagging of President Duterte and AFP Chief Carlito Galvez against Ka Satur Ocampo, ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro, the Lumad schools’ teachers and students, and several people’s organizations only prove their propensity to promote State terrorism. Instead of welcoming efforts to augment the severely inadequate education needs of indigenous children and to ensure their safety and security, Duterte and Galvez engage in baseless allegations and attacks to hide the government’s inability to provide comprehensive, adequate and appropriate education for the Lumad children,” said Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay, in reaction to recent statements by Duterte and Galvez alleging that the aforementioned are “members” of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
Despite rollbacks, TRAIN makes fuel more expensive–IBON
Research group IBON said that even with recent oil price rollbacks, the Duterte administration’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law (TRAIN) increases fuel prices with an inflationary effect burdening the poor more than the rich. IBON pointed out that rollbacks have always been proven to be temporary and stressed that TRAIN’s taxes make fuel more expensive permanently. The group underscored that government should do away with regressive TRAIN and decide to tax the rich instead.
This is the eighth consecutive week of oil price rollbacks. Attributed mainly to international oil oversupply, the rollbacks have lowered the net increase from January to December 2018 to Php1.05 for every liter of gasoline, Php2.00 for diesel and Php4.65 for kerosene.
IBON said that fuel prices would be even lower if not for TRAIN. The group noted that comparing average fuel prices in pre-TRAIN December 2017 and in November 2018 shows that pump prices have increased from Php47.94 to Php53.85 for every liter of gasoline; Php35.79 to Php43.05 for diesel; and Php41.52 to Php52.70 for kerosene. Regardless of hikes or rollbacks, said IBON, oil prices are permanently higher because of TRAIN’s excise taxes for 2018 plus value added tax (VAT) on excise totaling Php1.95/2.97 for every liter of gasoline, Php2.80 for diesel, and Php3.36 for kerosene.
The additional consumption levies of the Duterte administration’s TRAIN hence aggravated the burden of making ends meet for the poor majority of Filipino families whose incomes are low to begin with, said IBON. Record inflation set in this year soon after the January implementation of TRAIN. This is estimated to have caused the income of the poorest 60% households to erode by between Php2,500 to Php6,800 during the first ten months of 2018.
Unfortunately, the Duterte administration is even considering to lift the suspension of the next tranche of TRAIN’s fuel excise taxes, said the group. Among others, it noted, this adds another Php9.00, Php4.50, and Php4.00 for every liter of gasoline, diesel, and kerosene, respectively, exclusive of the 12% VAT on excise. Even as the consecutive rollbacks slow inflation, the 2019 set of fuel excise taxes will figure in disrupting the seeming stabilization of prices, and continue to hurt the pockets of the poorest families, said IBON.
IBON said that because of the volatility of global oil prices, it is also too early to say that local prices will remain low. Oil prices could still increase due to possible Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) production cuts, US sanctions on Iran progressing, and untoward geopolitical events.
The group stressed however that government can moderate the impact of oil prices by doing away with the regressive TRAIN law. It can start by suspending the inflationary taxes of TRAIN, such as those on sensitive products like oil, that is burdening the majority of poor Filipinos already struggling with low incomes and job scarcity, IBON said.
Government should focus on generating higher revenues by pursuing tax evaders and higher direct taxes on the income and wealth of the country’s richest, said the group. These direct taxes will not make consumer goods and services more expensive, IBON concluded. ###
ALAB Analysis: Panggigipit sa mga batang Lumad
Human trafficking ng Lumad students ang paratang ng AFP at PNP sa mga delegado ng National Solidarity Mission. Pero ano ba ang nangyayari sa Lumad schools sa Davao del Norte? Panoorin ang ALAB Analysis kasama si Inday Espina-Varona.
The post ALAB Analysis: Panggigipit sa mga batang Lumad appeared first on Altermidya.
Families, rights groups mark Political Prisoners Day
Relatives and human rights groups led by the Karapatan Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples’ Rights marched to Mendiola in Manila, December 3, to commemorate International Solidarity Day for Political Prisoners and call for the release of all political detainees. Karapatan said that political prisoners are proof of an unjust system as well as double […]