Contradicting himself
In a public address last week, President Rodrigo Duterte tried to explain that his campaign promise to ride a jet ski to the disputed islands at the West Philippine Sea to assert Philippine sovereignty was merely a campaign joke. He however contradicted himself in what could be one of the more bizarre rants by the chief executive already notorious for often bizarre rants.
CHR, Red Cross asked to ensure safety of jailed peace consultants in ATC list
The Commission on Human Rights and the International Committee of the Red Cross had been asked to regularly check on the condition of three political prisoners designated by a government task force as alleged terrorists.
‘It is just a sweeping accusation, no different from red-tagging’
“The designation is arbitrary, has no clear standards, with no evidence presented and no specific terrorist acts cited. It is just a sweeping accusation, no different from red-tagging, that violates the rights of those designated. Those listed will also suffer the freezing of their bank accounts, a direct injury. All of this was done without due process.”
‘Hustisya para kay Ka Joseph’
Hustisya ang malakas na panawagan ng mga naulilang pamilya, kaibigan, at kasama ni Joseph Canlas, vice chaiperson ng Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) at lider ng Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon (AMGL). Pumanaw ang 59 anyos na lider pesante noong Mayo 11, sa komplikasyon dulot ng COVID-19 na kanyang nakuha mula sa iligal na pagkakulong noong Marso 30.
Wag pahiran ang luha sa pisngi
“Wag niyo nang itanong ang bakit, / ba’t buhay nila”y isa-isang kinikitil. / hangarin niyo, pa’no siya nabuhay, / silbi’t kabuluhan na sadyang inalay.”
Peasant leader’s death sparks outrage, calls for justice
Longtime peasant leader Joseph Canlas, who had been detained over trumped-up charges, has passed away today, May 11, after he was rushed to a hospital three days ago, according to peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas.
Pag-agaw ng Hininga
“Bawat agaw ng hininga ay pasusumamo sa langit;… / Bawat ubo’y may kapalit na hampas sa iyong dibdib”
Joseph Canlas in a coma; KMP blames neglect by jail authorities
KMP said Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Angeles District Warden Jail Supt. Rebecca Manalo-Tiguelo belittled Canlas’ initial complaints as well as those of other detainees. “Last week, Canlas expressed that he was not feeling well but Manalo-Tiguelo simply dismissed Canlas’s ailment as ‘umaarte lang’ (just putting up an act),” KMP said.
Central Luzon’s most prominent political detainee fights for life in ICU
Canlas experienced breathing difficulties and stuttering speech on Saturday afternoon and his family pleaded to jail authorities to bring him to a hospital.
Bizarre ‘debate’
President Rodrigo Duterte’s challenge to retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio to a debate on the West Philippine Sea issue has gone more weirder and weirder. After the latter has accepted the challenge, presidental spokesperson Harry Roque said the president is ready anytime. The President has since gone silent however, followed by Roque’s announcement that he had been designated to be his representative. Roque then enumerated issues to be debated upon, an imposition promptly rejected by the retired magistrate.