Computer firm, Acer Philippines has noted how the present administration’s spending in information and communication technologies (ICT) has increased has boosted the sales in communication gadgets and computers.
Letter of Concern of Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU)
13th March, 2018
H.E. Rodrigo Duterte
President of the Republic Malacañang Palace,
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila Philippines
Voice: (+632) 564 1451
Via Email: op@president.gov.ph
Dear Mr President,
Re: Cancel the Justice Department Petition to proscribe the CPP and NPA
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) is writing this letter to express our
concern on the recent spate of attacks against human rights defenders, activists, and political dissenters in the Philippines, through the inclusion of the names of more than 600 individuals in a Justice Department petition to proscribe the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People’s Army (NPA) as terrorist organizations. Such listing endangers the lives and security of these individuals, as well as that of their families and fellow activists.
International fact-finding mission in Comval pushes through amid military psy-war
An international fact-finding and solidarity mission bound to check on reported human rights violations was blocked twice by military checkpoints on Saturday entering Maco, Compostela Valley.
Mindanao peace advocates, church leaders welcome resumption of talks
Church leaders and peace advocates welcomed the pronouncement of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte to resume the peace talks between the government and communists after months of uncertainties following its cancellation.
AMAN: Stament of Concern on the Increasing Harassment and Intimidation of Indigenous People’s Leaders and Human Rights Defenders
STATEMENT OF CONCERN ON THE INCREASING HARASSMENT AND INTIMIDATION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ LEADERS AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN THE PHILIPPINES
The Alliance of Indigenous Peoples of the Archipelago (AMAN), representing more then 2000 indigenous communities throughout Indonesia, condemns the recent action taken by the Philippines Government to criminalize leaders of the Philippines Indigenous Peoples movement as well as indigenous leaders working in the international arena.
Latest, a petition filed in court by the Philippine State Prosecutor of the Department of Justice (DOJ), seek to have a number of indigenous peoples’ leaders and human rights defenders declared as terrorist and outlaws pursuant to the National Security Act of 2007.
Central Committee of Aliansi Gerakan Reforma Agraria (AGRA) Condemn the Terror Tagging of Hundreds of Filipino People
CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF ALIANSI GERAKAN REFORMA AGRARIA (AGRA) CONDEMN THE TERRORS TAGGING HUNDREDS OF PHILIPPINES PEOPLE BY THE FASCIST REGIME DUTERTE
On February 21st, a petition was filed by State Attorney General Peter Ong with a trial trial in Manila and only announced last week that lists 461 names and 188 other names the government wants to declare a “terrorist.” The list of terror targets peasant leaders, trade unions, youth, women, local activists and civil society at large who continue to fight for the sovereignty, social justice, democracy and rights of the Filipino people.
Aliansi Gerakan Reforma Agraria (AGRA) considers that the list of terror is a major threat to the safety and security of the broad Filipinos, considering Duterte’s bloody of extra- judicial killing (EJKs) in which thousands have been killed since he served as President. With various security policies enforced, Duterte effectively legitimizes the military and police to arrest, detain, kidnap or even killed the people who registered in their “Terrorist” list without legal process.
Workers start weekly Black Friday Protest vs. Duterte’s failure to end contractualization
Members of militant labor center, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) – Metro Manila and Alyansa ng mga Manggagawa Laban sa Kontraktwalisasyon (ALMA Kontraktwal) kicked off their weekly Black Friday Protest against contractualization today as they march to Mendiola in Manila. According to the groups, the series of the said weekly protest will culminate in a giant nationwide rally on May 1 in time for International Labor Day.
KMU Metro Manila and ALMA Kontraktwal are set to stage the series of protest actions in the whole month of April to denounce the President Duterte over his failure to totally ban contractual labor nationwide. They also slammed the Duterte administration for its impending signing of an Executive Order that will regulate contractualization practices in the country.
“What labor groups and contractual workers demand for the government to do is a total ban, criminalization and prohibition of the entire contractualization system in the country and not just mere regulation of this unfair labor practice. We urge President Duterte to fulfill his election campaign promise that he will end contractualization!” said Ed Cubelo, KMU Metro Manila chairperson.
During their march, protesters bring their end of contract or ‘endo’ notice for Duterte. According to the groups, the symbolic issuance of the said notice depicted their rage against the government’s retraction to their promises to the Filipino workers.
The groups also calls on the attention of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and President Duterte to replicate their efforts to the almost 7,000 contractual workers of Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) to all contractual Filipino workers. On the other hand, they urge JFC to comply on the order and stop using Department Order 174 to justify its long-drawn bad practices against its workers.
KMU Metro Manila and ALMA Kontraktwal sees the government’s move for the JFC workers as ‘selective’ and just mere grandstanding to pacify the outrage of the millions more contractual workers. They said that contractual workers were not just in the service industry and businesses, but on all industries across the country. “If Bello and Duterte were really sincere and serious to end contractualization and serve for the best interests of our working forces, then they must craft a national policy that will totally prohibit contractualization practices.
If the President will still insist that he can’t do something to end contractualization then he must really start packing his things up and prepare himself to be terminated out of the Palace,” said Maristel Garcia, ALMA Kontraktwal spokesperson.
The post Workers start weekly Black Friday Protest vs. Duterte’s failure to end contractualization appeared first on Manila Today.
Fact-finding mission delegates harassed at Butuan airport
Delegates to an international fact-finding and solidarity mission were harassed this morning at Bancasi Airport in Butuan City.
The delegates, composed of lawmakers and representatives from peasant and human rights groups, arrived from Manila to participate in the three-day activity which aims to investigate peasant killings and other human rights violations under martial law in Mindanao.
Upon arrival at the airport, the participants noticed a banner welcoming them to the activity, with the words “Just do it right” printed at the bottom. Sensing something suspicious, they asked if any of the registered delegates brought the said banner. It was later found out that the banner did not belong to any delegate or group participating in the mission.
Reports from Cagayan de Oro said that the same banner was posted at Lumbia Airport.
On the way to Cagayan de Oro, mission delegates coming from Lumbia Airport were held at checkpoints in Brgy. Molugan, El Salvador; Brgy. Luyong, Opol; and Brgy. Igpot, Opol in Misamis Oriental.
Kabataan Partylist also reported that several men in civilian wear took photos and videos of the participants as they were leaving the airport. Organizers confirmed that they were not part of the official delegation.
Participants also raised suspicion over a black pickup truck that tailed their vehicle from the airport to the highway.
Kabataan Partylist condemns harassment
Kabataan Partylist representative Sarah Elago condemns the intimidation that greeted the delegates.
“We will not be cowed by any attempt to frustrate the significant cause of the IFFSM—that is to ferret out the truth on the extent of state-sponsored killings and other human rights abuses, particularly against farmers, in a huge step closer to bringing perpetrators to justice, and ending impunity,” she said in a Facebook post.
Not the first time
Delegates to a previous solidarity mission were also met with harassment in February this year. Foreign participants to the International Solidarity Mission were stopped at a checkpoint on the way to General Santos City and brought to the local Bureau of Immigration where they were interrogated for two hours. Military men also took pictures and videos of the delegates.
The mission was organized by Mindanaoans for Civil Liberties and ICHRP (International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines).
Killings under martial law in Mindanao
Rights group Karapatan notes that 80 out of 126 (or 63 percent) of political killings in 2017 were cases in Mindanao. The group has recorded 9 killings in Northern Mindanao; 10 in Caraga, 13 in SoCSKSargen; 28 in Southern Mindanao; and 10 in the ARMM.
Majority of the victims are peasants and members of indigenous groups. Under the government’s counterinsurgency program Oplan Kapayapaan, military and paramilitary groups often label the victims as New People’s Army sympathizers.
The international fact-finding and solidarity mission aims to conduct interviews, group discussions, and other activities to gather more information on peasant killings in Mindanao. It will cover three key regions: Northern Mindanao, Southern Mindanao, and Caraga.
The mission is organized by Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Mindanao for Civil Liberties, Tanggol Magsasaka, Asian Peasant Coalition (APC), PAN Asia Pacific (PANAP), People’s Coalition for Food Sovereignty (PCFS), Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP), International League of Peoples Struggles (ILPS) Commission 6 and the Youth for Food Sovereignty (YFS).probe killings and rights’ violations kicks off today in Northern Mindanao, Southern Mindanao and CARAGA regions.
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