Current Polirical Issues in Philippines and International

Press Benigno Aquino Plays as Pontius Pilate On Hacienda Luisita

The controversial agreement to settle the decades-old dispute on one of the largest agricultural estate in the Philippines included on the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) is being assailed by other farmers and beneficiaries saying that it pre-empts the Supreme Court into resolving the issue of the stock distribution that the Hacienda Luisita management gave to farmers instead of giving the lands. More so, the present machinations of the management is seen as deceptive as they only opt to give more than 1,000 hectares of land plus cash instead of distributing to farmers the more than 4,000 hectares already designated by the Department of Agrarian Reform for distribution to farmer-beneficiaries.

In all these, Pres. Noynoy Aquino who owns more than 1% shares to the company owned by his relatives has been aversive into dealing the cause of the farmers head-on. His spokesperson Atty. Edwin Lacierda said that the President is not keen on involving himself to the issue in order not to be accused of using his power especially that the issue right now is already in the Supreme Court for resolution, but is happy that an agreement is reached and is underway between the two parties.

The issue of agrarian reform is one of strongest issues hurled against him during the campaign and promised that Hacienda Luisita will be distributed to beneficiaries in five years during his term if elected. That promise sounded lame and hallow yet people gave him the vote of confidence. Now that he is already the President, Noynoy Aquino is still washing his hands on the issue that should have been resolved decades ago during his mother’s term. Noynoy Aquino is surely playing the role of Pontius Pilate on this.

While he is resolved and uses all his powers as President of the country on his fight for graft and corruption and stopping the financial leakages in the government, he is on the one hand seen as very lame on advancing the welfare of the farmers that had basically fattened the pockets of his family.

It is unfortunate that Noynoy Aquino is hiding under the skirt of fear so as not to be accused of peddling his power as President into a case that from the very beginning has undermined the welfare of the farmers toiling Hacienda Luisita. I wonder why should the President be afraid of being accused of using the powers of his office on advancing the welfare and giving justice to the very people he should defend? Isn’t it primarily his work as President to use everything at his disposal to advance the welfare of the marginalized, particularly the farmers on the issue of Hacienda Luisita?

Noynoy Aquino is just washing his hands while his family is crucifying the farmers for decades now. The management of Hacienda Luisita trades Barabas with cash and 1,000-plus hectares on the agreement over the rights of farmers of owning the more than 4,000 hectares of the estate. Noynoy Aquino and his advisers know very well that the farmers do not deserve this ploy to short change the beneficiaries yet he opts to play the Pontius Pilate for his family.

Bishop Pabillo of the Archdiocese of Manila is right when he said that Pres. Aquino was voted on the platform and now is working of leading the country to the straight and right path. Such platform raises then the issue of Hacienda as his ultimate test: to choose the country and the people over his family’s welfare and influence.

Pres. Aquino still has the time choose: be the Pontius Pilate or the Simon of Cyrene of the farmers.

Comments/Suggestions:

Today, Noynoy Aquino must speak about this one, this is an important issue! HE must say something on how to solve this and how to end this with no more bloodshed! As we observed he is the leading candidate based on the surveys, and it is unfair to the other candidates who runs fairly yet this only ONE issue he can’t solve? Let us also be aware that Noynoy must be fair and just in this issue whether he or his family is on this, the point is if he prove that under to his leadership and power there will be no corruption.On the interviews Noynoy is urged to solve Hacienda Luisita, he may say that he would give up his 1% and asked his Uncles and aunts to give the land too, but how far he can do .

The high cost of barangay elections

It's the eve of the campaign period for the Barangay and SK elections. At the stroke of midnight, the streets and alleys of the metro will once again take the shape of a 3-dimensional collage, plastered from end to end with faces and promises of the nation's smallest political unit.
In Brgy. Tatalon, Quezon City, incumbent barangay chairman Benedick Banega preoccupies himself with barangay affairs, while in a room nearby, barangay workers and volunteers are busy mounting some 600 tarpaulins on bamboo frames.
"Barangay elections are more expensive now," Banega says. "During my father's time, candidates used to just write their names on old sacks. And hardly anyone wanted to run. But now, with more funds and more autonomy given to barangays, it's become more a more lucrative profession."
By Capt. Banega's estimation, his team has spent more than 50,000 pesos on campaign materials alone. Each kagawad gets 75 tarpaulin posters, while Banega gets 150 pieces. Each of these are priced at 24 pesos. This doesn't include the P45,000 they've allotted for their poll watchers on election day.

"Nowadays, you really have to spend to get ahead in the race," says Banega.
But it's a slightly different picture in Brgy. Baseco, Tondo, Manila. There are no tarpaulin posters at the headquarters of candidate Domingo "A-1" Ramirez, only used posters made of sack that some party-list group left lying around on the streets.

A-1's team was seen turning these old posters over so they could paint their names on the clean back side. In one corner of the room, volunteers are cutting up some old donated cardboard, and using a rubber stamp to mark them with "Vote A-1 for Brgy. Captain."

And plastered on the wall are different-sized, home-made printouts of the running kagawads, with the only thing in common being the face of their candidate for chairman.

"I don't have any money, so the kagawads have adopted my face on their own campaign posters," A-1 Ramirez declares proudly. "Poverty is not a hindrance for me."
By the team's computation, they have spent just a little more than 10,000 pesos, including P1,400 for 2 gallons of paint, P80 for the single rubber stamp, and about P300 for refills of the stamp pad.
Ramirez initially tried to collect 1,000 pesos from each kagawad, but not everyone could come up with the money. Now, they're powered by donations after swallowing their pride.

"All the 3 other candidates for chairman here are millionaires. I'm the only one who's poor. I guess all I can offer is heart," Ramirez chuckles.
But Ramirez concedes that money does matter in any election, big or small. He says he would spend more if he had more.

But with the campaign period starting in just a few hours, and with only 10 days of campaigning allowed, he can only pin his hopes on those in Baseco who can look past the re-used sacks and dirty cardboard giveaways…and see promise behind his persistence.

Comments/Suggestions:

The Election will start with the corruption power. If you are able to please the bussiness people in your barangay they are confident already to take their money back from the councilors, mayors, governors, congressmen up in expense of the poor people. I hope that there is an election every six months to give importance/ value to the voters.It just my opinion to the filipinos.

Gang-rape case: Securing 'Florence'

MANILA, Philippines - Providing security for the country's medical workers is at the center of heated discussions after the gang rape of "Florence," a volunteer nurse in Maguindanao last week.

Six suspects arrested in connection with the gang rape are facing charges in Cotabato City.

"We have filed the case before the fiscal's office and it's now being scheduled by the fiscal in Cotabato City," said Sr. Supt. Federico Castro, Head of Task Force Joy, PNP-ARMM, on ANC's "The Rundown" Monday night.

Case filed vs 6

"A case has been filed against the first six suspects. As per request of the community and families, we have to pinpoint the perpetrators of the crime because we will be giving undue justice to those who have no participation," Castro said. "That's the request fom the office of the regional governor."

Castro said the police are also looking into possible charges against 2 others in custody. A vice mayor of a South Upi town, where the nurse was deployed, is also being questioned.

"Walo na yan [suspects]. We are investigating one from the government, vice-mayor ng municipality. We invited him because of circumstances coming out in our review of the case."

Castro said they are also trying to identify another suspect, a worker at Hanjin Construction. He added the investigation is pointing to 2 or 3 persons responsible for the crime.

"This is an isolated case. It was a matter of 'nakursunadahan' yung nangyari. It's a far-flung municipality, and with the presence of new people in the municipality, that's one of the causes of what happened."

Castro said Task Force Joy and an National Bureau of Investigation-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) forensic chemist are going over material evidence and looking into all angles that will lead to the early solution of the case.

Walk for Justice

Meantime, the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA), held a demonstration in Mendiola, Manila on Tuesday to demand justice for the 21-year-old victim.

"Joy," or "Florence" as the PNA refers to her, remains confined at a hospital in Cotabato City after being found unconscious near the hospital where she worked.

(Florence Nightingale is a celebrated English nurse who sought to help the sick out of sincere service. Those in the nursing profession look up to her as a heroine.)

Dr. Tita Barcelo, president of the PNA, said "Florence" was part of the second batch of the government's NARS Program that provides year-long training for nurses in areas that are underserved.

To assure security and comply with language and cultural requirements, Barcelo said they make it a point to get applicants from the municipality, initially, and then from within the province if no one from the municipality is qualified. She, however, added that they don't get outsiders.

Barcelo said the program is scheduled to end in December.

"It will really end not because of this event but because this is a short-term project," clarified Barcelo.

But, Barcelo said, Health Secretary Enrique Ona had expressed openness to the possibility of extending the program before the incident, and hiring volunteer nurses in a more permanent way.

Volunteer nurses are currently receiving P8,000 a month under the NARS Program.

Barcelo warned the incident may discourage other health workers from working in far-flung areas where their services are badly-needed. She added the PNA now urges local governments to ensure the safety of volunteer nurses.

"In the final analysis, these are the people who can't afford to go to hospitals, to buy medicines, and this is where we want to be, and our idealist new graduates want to serve. This can serve as another push-factor for our nurses to go out."

Comments/Suggestions:

It's really the responsibility of the community to take care of the safety of these volunteers of the GANG RAPE FLOURENCE. Securing the safety of volunteer nurses has been a problem for the medical community now.As we all know in the Mindanao area might be losing their accredition from PhilHealth because of the lack of manpower, and this incident is going to aggravate that problem. I hope government can seriously look into this case."Nurses have the sworn duty to help people, and I think difficulties like this come with the job. So, what we really want is to appeal to local government to ensure our security and protect us. If we cower with every difficulty we meet, the people out there who really need our service will really be the ones to suffer,"

7 released in bus hostage taking in Quirino Granstand

At least 22 foreign nationals and three Filipinos were taken hostage by a dismissed member of the Manila Police District (MPD) inside a bus parked near the Quirino Grandstand in Ermita, Manila Monday.

Police Chief Insp. Erwin Margarejo, spokesman of the MPD, identified the disgruntled former police officer who took over the Hong Thai travel and tourist bus as Police Senior Insp. Rolando Mendoza.

As of 12:15 p.m. Monday, at least six hostages were already released but authorities declined to divulge the suspect's demands.

The MPD Spokesman identified five of the six Hongkong national as Tsan Yee Lai, 40, Fuchak Yin, 10, Wong Chin Nat, 12, Fu Chang Yin, 4, and Diana Chan.

The five released hostages were taken to the nearest precinct to get their statements before taking them to the hospital for stress de-briefing.

Initial investigation disclosed that the former police officer took over the tourist bus at around 10:00 a.m. Monday.

The tourist bus, filled with Hongkong nationals, was about to leave Fort Santiago when Mendoza, who was clad in full police uniform and armed with an M-16 rifle, asked the driver if he could hitch a ride.

The driver, whom authorities have yet to identify, let Mendoza board the vehicle since he thought that the man was an on duty police officer.

Chinese Embassy to RP: ensure safety of hostage survivors

The Chinese Embassy in Manila on Monday night said that the Philippine government should ensure the safety and security of the Chinese nationals who survived the Quirino Grandstand hostage drama Monday.

Sun said they have yet to issue a formal written statement regarding the hostage drama as they are “still confirming the exact information of how many were killed.”

According to Sun, a working group from the Chinese Embassy was sent to the site earlier, adding that they “requested for some explanation why no SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) team did not take action at that time.”

“The working group had a disagreement with Philippine side… When the whole drama was over, the Philippine side said sorry… about this action,” he said.

Another working group from the Chinese Embassy was on its way Monday night to the hospitals to check on the survivors of the hostage crisis, according to Sun.

About 25 Chinese nationals onboard a tourist bus were taken hostage by former policeman who was relieved from service.

Comments/Suggestions:

“We request that the Philippine side should try its best to make sure that the injured or those who survived the hostage would be taken cared of,” Chinese Embassy in Manila.As a Filipino we should love and care the tourists people from the other country so that they can help us to invest.“We are hoping for the safety and security of those who were injured,As a concerned citizen of this county, I requested for some explanation why no SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) team did not take action at that time.”and why Press. Aquino did not make an action in the accident happened of the Quirino Granstand.

NDRMMC issues progress report on Juan

Manila (18 October) -- In a press conference this afternoon at the National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council (NDRRMC) at Camp Aguinaldo, in Quezon City, the council issued a progress report on the devastation caused by typhoon Juan.

"Malakas talaga ang bagyong ito. Mas malakas ang hangin. Konti ang ulan," said Undersecretary Benito Ramos, executive director of NDRMMC.

Benito shared the report to the media, saying in Ilocos Sur, the Manila North Road in Brgy. Sagayaden, Cabugao is only a lane passable.

In Region II, the Isabela local government has placed the entire province in a state of calamity due to the devastation it is enduring. As reported, Roxas municipality is experiencing power outage with electrical posts toppled down by the strong winds; while another town, Santiago, is currently experiencing strong winds and heavy rains. Likewise, Cagayan province has no power supply.

In the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), the Benguet-Dalupirip Itogon and Nueva Vizcaya-Benguet road has been closed due to landslides early this afternoon. Landslides have also closed to traffic the Claveria-Calanasan road (Mabanog section), and the Lenneng-Cabugao road, in Apayao. The same is the case for Calanan Boundary-Calaan road (Bannagao and Dalimono sections) in Mt. Province that are both one-way passable.

Initially, the number of evacuees in Regions 1, 2, and CAR has reached to 781 families or 3,687 people.

The Council director also reported that 274 passengers and 10 rolling cargoes, four vessels, and 2 'motorbancas' are in various ports of Luzon are stranded.

For casualties, NDRRMC recorded one injured in Sta. Ana, Cagayan, by a fallen live wire; and one certain Vicente Decena of Brgy Namabbalan Norte, Cagayan is confirmed dead after getting drowned with his at the Cagayan river.

According to Benito, typhoon Juan's sphere has reduced at 300 kilometer radius, but maintains to be at 17 kilometers per hour movement.

"Hopefully, ngayong gabi mag-eexit na itong bagyo," he added

US greenlights $100,000 aid for typhoon victims

MANILA, Philippines - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday expressed condolences to the Philippines after supertyphoon Juan (international codename Megi) devastated parts of Northern Luzon and left at least 10 people dead.

US Ambassador Harry Thomas, Jr. has instructed the US embassy to provide aid through the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

USAID plans to make available US$100,000 to help those affected by the typhoon.

Thomas, who is currently in the United States, met with officials of the National Security Council and the Department of State, and Senator Jim Webb of Virginia to discuss the storm’s impact and the importance of a quick US government response.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with all Filipinos during this difficult time. I'm heartened and impressed by the effective measures taken by the people and the government of the Philippines to meet the threat posed by the storm,” he said on Tuesday.

"My embassy team is in constant contact with Philippine authorities and NGO representatives to determine how we can be of further assistance," he added.

At the request of the Philippine government, some US troops and equipment in the country for the annual CARAT and PHIBLEX exercises, along with aircraft and personnel from the Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines, have been diverted for use in assessment of areas affected by the typhoon.

Additional assistance will be determined based on the results of the assessments, he said.

Thomas said he will coordinate with the US military and USAID for typhoon relief efforts.

"It is during challenging times like these that the close partnership between the militaries of the United States and the Philippines proves its value," he said.

"We all recall that American and Filipino soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder to provide assistance during tropical storms Ondoy and Pepeng last year. In that same spirit, we stand ready to work with our Filipino partners to assist those affected by Typhoon Juan."

Comments/Suggestions:

"On behalf of the CDKIANS, I offer our condolences for the damage and loss of life caused on the island of Luzon by Typhoon Juan.We should love our surroundings/environment so that It would not happened again and again. I suggested that in every institution/school that there should be TREE PLANTING activities so that in the reality it can really help us. I also suggested that we offered our prayers with the people of Luzon and all Filipinos affected by this tragedy.