Why retain 15% rice import tariff?
The government is not keen on raising palay output judging by its decision to retain the 15% tariff on imported rice. Rather, it sees the tariff as a revenue-generating scheme applauded by favored rice importers, who will increase import volumes, to hell with the bankrupted rice farmers. Instead of reducing rice imports, the Marcos Jr. regime is even negotiating for multi-year imports from Pakistan, which has a large bread-eating population.
Montreal church scraps Duterte meet
“While fully recognizing the right of individuals and groups to assemble and express their political views, holding such an event in a sacred place — within a Catholic Church—seems deeply disturbing to us, given the heavy liability of Duterte on human rights violations and public contempt for the Church,” ICHRP-Quebec stressed.
CPP says NPA frustrating AFP’s claim of ‘strategic victory’
“The AFP cannot dispute the reality that the NPA continues to enjoy the deep and wide support of the people because it continues to fight for their aspirations for justice and genuine freedom,” it added.
New task for the NPA
A significant element in the message delivered by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP-CC) on the 56th anniversary of the New People’s Army (NPA) on Mar. 29, 2025 is a call for guerrillas to intensify political work within the military ranks and recruit “progressive and patriotic officers and men into the Crispin Tagamolila Movement (CTM).”
80 wasted years
Now celebrating his 80th year, Duterte by his lonesome in a The Hague jail will have all the time in the world to reflect on how he wasted 80 long years by not doing good, by insisting that murder is the solution to drug addiction but sparing the real drug kingpins from the bullets of his highly-rewarded hitmen.
VP Sara requires names, proofs of killings of 30K victims
“VP Sara has an incredible platform and huge opportunity to raise the level of the discussion to more than this. This is a simplistic view that may convince some, but unfortunately, not the court.”
Titong’s legacy died with him
No one argued with Titong, who was, during the martial law dispensation, more equal than others in the legal profession, and whose service to Marcos spanned more than 30 years, starting during the time when Marcos Sr. was preparing to unseat Diosdado Macapagal Sr. with a little help from his friend Enrile.
Balikatan, Salaknib exercises will worsen tension in the country
“The Balikatan and Salaknib exercises are not about defending the Philippines; they are about projecting US power in the region. The presence of foreign troops and the conduct of war games on Philippine soil are an insult to our people and a direct threat to our peace and security.”
‘Crimes against humanity’ require thousands of cases
“VP Sara Duterte’s assertion that there is no case of crime against humanity against Pres. Rodrigo Duterte because only 43 cases were mentioned in the Warrant of Arrest when ‘crimes against humanity is a serious allegation’ requiring thousands of deaths has no basis at all under the Rome Statute of the ICC. It is also painful for the families of EJK victims to be called “fake victims” for merely seeking justice for their slain loved ones.”
Bayan Muna, OFWs score against SSS’ advance payment scheme
In its decision, the High Court said: “[T]o enforce compulsory coverage of land-based OFWs through the issuance of OECs is unduly oppressive, unreasonable, and repugnant to the Constitution.”