Marawi students resent destruction of schools, humanitarian mission reports
Students in Marawi struggle to regain access to education as the new school year started amid battles between government troops and the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups, educators who recently visited evacuation centers in Mindanao said. “The students harbor deep resentment because their return to their schools for the new school year has been hampered,” […]
Mission reports woeful conditions in Lanao evacuation centers
Evacuees displaced by the ongoing battle between government forces and the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups in Mindanao are suffering and remain in danger in various evacuation centers, participants of a humanitarian mission to Marawi and Iligan cities said. In a press forum yesterday, participants of the National Interfaith Humanitarian Mission from the University of […]
‘Iloilo not in Mindanao,’ Left tells Abella and Lorenzana
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) gave presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella and defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana a quick lesson in Philippine geography, reminding the two cabinet officials Iloilo is not part of Mindanao. Following the secretaries’ denunciation of the New People’s Army (NPA) attack of the police station in Maasin, Iloilo last Sunday, […]
Teachers press for ‘delayed’ salary increase
Public school teachers trooped to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) central offices in Manila last June 16 to press for a ‘long-delayed’ salary increase. Slamming DBM secretary Benjamin Diokno and Department of Education secretary Leonor Briones’ immediate rejection of their demand, the teachers said the two officials do not understand the hardships the […]
Dureza: Maasin raid not covered by the Minda-wide no offensive declarations
The New People’s Army (NPA) raid on a police station in Iloilo yesterday was not covered by the government and the Left’s statements to mutually refrain from offensive operations in Mindanao, a cabinet secretary clarified today. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said in a statement the Maasin, Iloilo incident must be dealt […]
Groups launch program against child labor
Child rights advocates gathered at the Rizal Park Open Air Auditorium in Manila yesterday for a night of music and poetry to call for an end of child labor in the country. The “Himig at Tula Para sa Isang Milyong Batang Malaya” event commemorated this year’s World Day Against Child Labor, a special day aimed […]
Panels may resume talks in August; GRP commits to no offensives vs NPA
Stalled formal peace negotiations between the Duterte government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) may resume in August, sources told Kodao Productions. Following exchanges of “friendly” statements after Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) negotiators backed off from the scheduled fifth round of talks in The Netherlands last month, back-channel […]
NDFP offers help to fight terrorists anew
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) reiterated its previous declaration that it stands firmly with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) in opposing and fighting terrorism in the country. In a statement, NDFP Negotiating Panel chairperson Fidel Agcaoil said it is willing to fight terrorist groups as well as acts […]
AFP blocks humanitarian aid to Marawi evacuees
A humanitarian mission with 400 relief packs for evacuees was denied entry to Marawi City today by the military, its leaders announced. Bagong Alyansang Makabayan spokesperson and former Bayan Muna representative Teddy Casiño said an Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) checkpoint at the entrance to the city proper stopped the National Interfaith Humanitarian Mission […]
Groups commemorate Independence Day with calls for respect of human rights
Sectoral groups gathered at the Bonifacio Shrine in Manila yesterday to commemorate the Philippines’ 119th Independence Day and to call for peace and respect for human rights. The National Day of Prayer and Action for Peace and Human Rights event was part of the day-long action denouncing the killings and other human rights violations under […]