Jobs crisis intensifying under Duterte – IBON
Research group IBON said that despite recently hyped growth of 6.8 percent in first quarter 2018 the country’s jobs situation continues to worsen under the Rodrigo Duterte administration. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the employment rate grew slightly to 94.5 percent in April 2018, while the unemployment rate was lower at 5.5 percent. […]
‘The fight goes on’ – Sister Pat
By April Burcer “A small step towards success,” was how Sister Patricia Fox, NDS described the Department of Justice’ (DOJ) decision to declare null and void Bureau of Immigration’s (BI) order revoking her missionary visa and order for her to leave the country within 30 days. She was grateful for the June 18 DOJ decision, […]
‘There’s no such thing as tambay culture’
“There is no such thing as a tambay culture. That practice is a result of workers’ ways of dealing with precarious work, it’s how the jobless deal with joblessness, and joblessness as we all know is a result of a backward non-industrial economy based on export orientation and import-dependence.” —Prof. Sarah Raymundo, sociologist
Duterte insincere on talks – peace groups
By April Burcer June 21 should have been the day “Stand Down Agreement” between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) is signed, but the ceasefire did not push through because of the government’s decision to cancel formal talks between the parties. In the “Are GRP-NDFP Peace Talks Still Possible with […]
Local, int’l groups urge resumption of GRP-NDFP talks
National church organization and an international lawyers’ group urged the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) to resume formal peace talks, following yet another cancellation by President Rodrigo Duterte. In a gathering at Cagayan de Oro City Thursday, June 21, members of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP), the […]
Supporters demand release of political prisoners
As President Rodrigo Duterte postponed yet again the resumption of its formal peace negotiations between his government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, the chances of more than 500 political prisoners to be given general amnesty has again been put into doubt. Human rights defenders held a protest march from Plaza Salamanca to […]
Sultan: Relationship-building more than infrastructure rehab in Marawi
By April Burcer “We want a rehabilitation that is anchored on cultural sensitivity and respect to religion, which we still don’t see until now,” Marawi City Sultan Abdul Hamidullah Atar during an Eid’l Fit’r Solidarity Affair Wednesday evening at the University of the Philippines in Diliman said. Atar said that what they want is simple […]
Peace talks to possibly resume in September
The peace talks between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) may resume in September. The NDFP said they have agreed to continue the peace negotiations with the Rodrigo Duterte government after listening to the GRP Panel’s explanation for the postponement of the resumption […]
NDFP consultants say AFP reason for talks cancellation
Following another cancellation of the resumption of formal talks between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, peace consultants said it appears the Armed Forces of the Philippines is against the impending ceasefire. In a press briefing, NDFP consultants and observers said the formal talks is […]
‘I do not have to be chief justice to defend our laws and institutions’ –Sereno
Hours after her colleagues denied with finality her motion for reconsideration, ousted Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno vowed to continue the fight against the ‘vicious’ Rodrigo Duterte administration even as a private citizen. With hundreds of supporters at the University of the Philippines Bahay ng Alumni Tuesday, June 19, Sereno recounted the attacks against her […]